A review by orestesfasting
Arturo's Island by Elsa Morante

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

It's perhaps slightly unfair that this novel is gaining its reputation in the anglophone world via Elena Ferrante, who was influenced by Morante but whose work I do prefer; her addressing of the most uncomfortable parts of being human is uncomfortably close and alienating in a way that few authors manage. Morante doesn't quite achieve this for me, but that's not to say that there aren't interesting things going on here. In particular, Nunzia and Arturo's attempts to play every family role out in their relationship between one another; to be siblings, to be partners, to be parent and child. This forces an examination of those relationships in a harsh and difficult light, something that Ferrante will jump and run with.