A review by aprilmei
The Beach at Night by Elena Ferrante

3.0

I didn't realize this was a short illustrated book when I saw it online at the library website. I was just trying to read all of Ferrante's books and put this one on hold along with two others. It is a strange, dark, slightly disturbing story that I wouldn't necessarily read to little kids, lest they get nightmares from it. I don't know if it was meant for that purpose anyway. While reading, I got a sense of the themes of loss of innocence, abandonment, forced silence, and reconciliation or acceptance of a new situation that was initially unwanted.

"The words that Mati taught me are quiet. They float inside my chest, inside my stomach. Sometimes they swim up to my mouth, but silently, like words in books or in Mati's mother's head when she's reading and doesn't want to be disturbed.
How peaceful." pg. 30

Book: borrowed from SSF Main Library.