Elena Ferrante

The Days of Abandonment

From the New York Times–bestselling author of My Brilliant Friend, this novel of a deserted wife’s descent into despair—and rage—is “a masterpiece” (The Philadelphia Inquirer).
The Days of Abandonment is the gripping story of an Italian woman’s experiences after being suddenly left by her husband after fifteen years of marriage. With two young children to care for, Olga finds it more and more difficult to do the things she used to: keep a spotless house, cook meals with creativity and passion, refrain from using obscenities. After running into her husband with his much-younger new lover in public, she cannot even refrain from assaulting him physically.
In a “raging, torrential voice” (The New York Times), Olga conveys her journey from denial to devastating emptiness—and when she finds herself literally trapped within the four walls of their high-rise apartment, she is forced to confront her ghosts, the potential loss of her own identity, and the possibility that life may never return to normal.
“Intelligent and darkly comic.” —Publishers Weekly
“Remarkable, lucid, austerely honest.” —The New Yorker
219 printed pages
Original publication
2005
Publication year
2005
Have you already read it? How did you like it?
👍👎

Impressions

  • Alice Genesshared an impression6 years ago
    👍Worth reading

  • Olga Nerushevashared an impression6 years ago
    👍Worth reading
    🎯Worthwhile
    🌴Beach Bag Book
    🚀Unputdownable

Quotes

  • katarina krzanovichas quoted2 years ago
    Yes, I said to myself, we do, we imagine, even as adults, a lot of silly things, out of joy or exhaustion.
  • Ofelia Rhas quoted2 years ago
    Only a few fragments had splintered off, for the rest I was well. I was whole, whole I would remain. To those who hurt me, I react giving back in kind. I am the queen of spades, I am the wasp that stings, I am the dark serpent. I am the invulnerable animal who passes through fire and is not burned.
  • Rantxxzhas quoted2 years ago
    He talked for a long time about our fifteen years of marriage, about the children, and admitted that he had nothing to reproach us with, neither them nor me

On the bookshelves

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