A Decent Family? I guess that is in the eye of the beholder. Family dramas are a double edge sword to me. Often too much drama and little development, I just can't get through them. That was not the case with this one. And yet, I could not enjoy it. It was all too ugly and too violent. The beauty of the world around her against the ugliness of the people around her left me feeling disconnected. Maybe that was the point. I feel something. Just not something positive. Not something I want to feel.

At first, it was a comparison to Elena Ferrante that caught my attention. Then I discovered that A Decent Family is a beautifully written novel about Maria - the Malacarne (bad seed) and her coming-of-age story.

As soon as I started, I knew that this novel was for me, and I was immediately absorbed by beautiful writing. In an instance, I was in Bari, Italy beside Maria. Loved it!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this! All opinions are my own.

A sweepingly beautiful read that held me captive and transported me to another time and place.

The book that promised to remind readers of the Neopolitan Series, was something that caught my attention. I didn’t know what I was getting into but I can say for a fact that I’m so pleasantly surprised by the book and the language and prose.

The book is told from the perspective of a girl Maria, from her childhood to her growing up. It tells you of her family dynamics and ends with her love story. It described the poverty, the abuse and utmost love that familial ties have. There were times that I gasped, sighed ruefully or was completely taken by the violence. What I feel after finishing the book was just a quiet kind of melancholy.

Originally written in Italian, I thought the translation was brilliantly done and made me wish I could read in Italian so that I could read the original prose as well.

I did feel like the ending was a little abrupt and I was actually looking for more from the story, so I would give this book a solid 4 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest review.

Maria is looking back over her life- which was pretty miserable. The small town of Bari is not kind to her, Her father, a fisherman, is cruel to her. Her brothers are mean. Everyone is poor. I know this has been compared to the Ferrante novels but that's unfair to Ventrella who has her own style. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This did not resonate with me but it's a good opportunity to read world literature and appreciate life in an Italian village.

A beautifully written novel from Rosa Ventrella that pulls at the heart the same way that the Neapolitan series did.
Mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, violence, pain. It's everything a good story needs and has.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

A very well written book about love, nature and nurture. Set in Bari in a poor part of the city, Maria tells of her violent chidhood, success at school which leads her to university, and loneliness. Where does she belong? I have found many common points with Elena Ferrante four books. If one liked her books, one will enjoy reading A Decent Family.
Thank you Rosa and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for free.

Maria is homesick for her father . They don't always agree but he is a part of her. Her father,Antonio,was a fisherman with a lot of sayings. There was ugliness all around. I just couldn't get interested.