It seems cliché, or lazy, to tie together two authors from the same country, whose work is translated from the same language, but there is no doubt that Domenico Starnone's novel shares an uncanny similarity with those of Elena Ferrante: much like the Neapolitan quartet, The Mortal and Immortal Life of the Girl from Milan is set against the backdrop of childhood, rich with the imaginative pursuits of youth - love and loss, friendships and conflicts, family ties and the search for an individual, autonomous self. Starnone's prose is taught and sharp and sparse, marked at the same time with atmospheric descriptions of place and character, and his protagonists - in their dialogue, in their personalities, in their relationships to themselves and one another - feel real and authentic. Although short, the novel packs enough in its 200-odd pages to make its climactic twist feel momentous, blindsiding both its narrator and its reader, and the explorations of memory and time are expertly sketched out.

The Mortal and Immortal Life of the Girl from Milan was a short but poignant read in which the young narrator experiencing first love and first loss. I was caught up in the story and characters, which all felt realistic and compelling. The weaving of myth and poetry throughout the novella worked really well, adding a subtle weight to the events taking place. It was a quick but memorable read and I would certainly pick up other works by this author in the future. I am giving it four stars.

This was a unique read. I wasn’t sure if it was going to be for me, but I was pleasantly surprised. I thoroughly enjoyed it and definitely recommend it.