The Story of a New Name

The Neapolitan Novels, Book 2

By: Elena Ferrante

Narrated by: Hillary Huber

The follow-up to My Brilliant Friend, The Story of a New Name continues the epic New York Times bestselling literary quartet that has inspired an HBO series, and returns us to the world of Lila and Elena, who grew up together in post-WWII Naples, Italy.

In The Story of a New Name, Lila has recently married and made her entrée into the family business; Elena, meanwhile, continues her studies and her exploration of the world beyond the neighborhood that she so often finds stifling. Marriage appears to have imprisoned Lila, and the pressure to excel is at times too much for Elena. Yet the two young women share a complex and evolving bond that is central to their emotional lives and a source of strength in the face of life’s challenges.

In these Neapolitan Novels, Elena Ferrante, “one of the great novelists of our time” (New York Times), gives us a poignant and universal story about friendship and belonging, a meditation on love and jealousy, freedom and commitment—at once a masterfully plotted page-turner and an intense, generous-hearted family saga.

©2012 Edizioni E/O. Translation © 2013 by Europa Editions (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Heavy and engaging

This book will suck you in, pull you down, wind you up. It's sad and fascinating and frustrating but incredibly engaging. I feel like I know each character personally, like I live and grew up there. The narrator builds the feeling and characters with just the slightest change in her tone. I'm intrigued to continue on in the series.

Great Second Novel of The Quartet

These novels are very good and this is an excellent follow up to the first novel.

Hopelessly hooked! Delightful.

I got immersed in My Brilliant Friend on HBO, and as soon as I realized I could continue the story by reading, I downloaded and devoured this book, and now cant wait to read through the last two! So good!!

I continue to love this book series!

The story intrigues you and keeps you enthralled throughout. wonderful storytelling. Very much enjoy this reader/narrator as well!

Excellent !, can't wait to start the third!

What made the experience of listening to The Story of a New Name the most enjoyable?

This book is an example of a perfectly-crafted story. As much as I enjoyed the first of this series, I found this 2nd book mesmerizing. I thought about it all the time. The reader does a perfect job......brings it to another level.....I would have been disappointed if she hadn't done all 4 of the books. Amazing translation into English....I honestly can't remember another book that made this kind of impression on me.....at least not recently.

What did you like best about this story?

The depth of the characters and the honesty of their feelings......

Have you listened to any of Hillary Huber’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Only the first of the Neopolitan novels.......but I will look for her others.