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The Lying Life of Adults
- Narrated by: Marisa Tomei
- Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins
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The Lying Life of Adults
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Summary
Soon to be a Netflix original series.
A powerful new novel set in a divided Naples by Elena Ferrante, the New York Times best-selling author of My Brilliant Friend and The Lost Daughter.
“There’s no doubt [the publication of The Lying Life of Adults] will be the literary event of the year.” (Elle)
Giovanna’s pretty face is changing, turning ugly, at least so her father thinks. Giovanna, he says, looks more like her Aunt Vittoria every day. But can it be true? Is she really changing? Is she turning into Aunt Vittoria, a woman she hardly knows but whom her mother and father clearly despise? Surely there is a mirror somewhere in which she can see herself as she truly is.
Giovanna is searching for her reflection in two kindred cities that fear and detest one another: a Naples of the heights, which assumes a mask of refinement, and a Naples of the depths, a place of excess and vulgarity. She moves between both in search of the truth, but neither city seems to offer answers or escape.
Named one of 2016’s most influential people by Time Magazine and frequently touted as a future Nobel Prize winner, Elena Ferrante has become one of the world’s most read and beloved writers. With this novel about the transition from childhood to adolescence to adulthood, Ferrante proves once again that she deserves her many accolades.
In The Lying Life of Adults, listeners will discover another gripping, highly addictive, and totally unforgettable Neapolitan story.
A Most Anticipated Book of 2020
- The New York Times Book Review
- Vogue
- Entertainment Weekly
- Elle Magazine
- BuzzFeed
- The Millions
- The Seattle Times
- USA Today
- Town & Country
- Thrillist
- Publishers Weekly
- Library Journal
- Harper’s Bazaar
- BookPage
- Literary Hub
- BBC Culture
What listeners say about The Lying Life of Adults
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- mike
- 01-06-21
A joy to listen to
A beautifully written book narrated to perfection. Definitely a book I will listen to again.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ann Ingle
- 10-09-20
wondweful
the narrator brought this book to life in an amazing making a piece of theatrical brilliance.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- R. Vowles
- 10-09-20
Ferrante's words poorly read.
The story was as I was expecting, moving, blunt and a wonderful recreation of a girl learning that the world of adults is more complex than she had imagined.
Sadly this was ruined somewhat by Marisa Tomei's narration. She reads this audiobooks like someone seeing the text for the very first time; placing her emphasis is weird points of sentences, rushing at times and generally not impressing. Her choice of voices for the characters was also quite bizarre, in her mouth they screech at odd moments, shout when there is no indication in the text that this is appropriate and are all given a weird slurring New Jersey accent. Often they sound more like Tony Soprano having a stroke, or and argument whilst VERY drunk than like young italians negotiating personal relationships.
please don't employ her for any more Ferrante.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- None
- 24-12-20
Excellent and unusual book
I really enjoyed this book the author recreates Naples so beautifully that you feel you are transported there. The characters are engaging and well defined. There is a sense of timelessness to this book and I was not sure when it was set what the time period was as it is translated it has a real sense of Italian culture even down to the language. I loved Marisa Tomei's narration it was superb.
If I have one criticism it was that the look seemed to finish very abruptly I had to double check it was really finished as it just seems to stop leaving so much unsaid.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- papapownall
- 02-09-20
Exceptional and exhilarating storytelling
I have been intrigued by Elena Ferrante (not her real name) for a while but have been put off by the daunting task of tackling her 1,600 four volume Neapolitan Novels for which she is most well known. This latest book has been highly anticipated in the publishing world and tells the story of a pubescent Neapolitan girl Giovanna who is shocked and upset when she is called ugly by her father. Giovanna meets a harsh and mysterious aunt who, unlike her academic parents, speaks in dialect and is illiterate and coarse and becomes a catalyst for Giovanna discovering family secrets and lies. The story of Giovanna's transformation from a child to a grown woman is told beautifully and as the life of a child she knew before disintegrates as she is faced with conflicts over her identity as she is drawn towards her toxic aunt. Giovanna is attracted to boys and desperately wants to experience a sexual relationship but is equally repulsed and thrilled by the thought of it happening.
This is exhilarating stuff and I loved it so much I did not want it to end. I now understand what the fuss is about Elena Ferrante and I cannot wait to discover more of her works. 5 stars.
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10 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 10-04-21
Powerful charactersation
Marisa Tomei delivers the story and characters exceptionally, voices and words made memorable - listening was powerful.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- dee dee
- 05-06-21
brilliant
A wonderful book, I’ve read lots of Eleanor Ferranti‘s books but decided it’s time to have an audio! the narrator was absolutely superb, I couldn’t get enough of it ! I will now look out for audio books read by Marissa Tomei!!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Carina Waldock
- 20-01-22
Amazing, engrossing story and performance
I devoured this book on a few long car journeys and it was beautiful. Passionate, poignant and exciting family drama - a great description of being of a teenage girl.
Loved the performance too.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jan S
- 28-11-22
Compulsive listening
Elena Ferrante’s stories are always surprising and unpredictable and you easily get sucked into the protagonist’s world. Frank, sometimes shocking but always truthful. Marisa Tomei’s reading and multiple voices bring the characters to life and adds to the enjoyment. I don’t know why but Elena Ferrante’s writing compels you to some strange voyeuristic curiosity.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- S. Gazi
- 28-02-21
Waste of time, awful ending
I had better expectations of this book. It had deep characters and explorations but the storyline was so unnecessary and dramatic, with an awful ending. It addresses the destructive forces of people's nature well. How suffering can turn someone caustic and how quickly people can turn a situation into their own tragedy like a dj spinning a disc. The ending with was foreshadowed early. Good character progression, so a well written book. Just bad plot.
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1 person found this helpful