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rachc's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, and Mental illness
Minor: Bullying, Gun violence, Infidelity, Pedophilia, and Stalking
liawindsor's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I was so ready to love this book and I'm gutted I didn't.
Things I liked: the atmosphere of Naples - Ferrante really brings the neighbourhood and their culture to life. I liked the side characters a lot more than the main ones. I would have preferred almost a more general, cross-sectioned narrative showing what their life is like, rather than this zoomed-in look on Lenu and Lila.
Things I didn't like: Unfortunately, I found the main character so irritating that I could never relax into the narration. I'd seen this book praised as a brilliant portrayal of female friendship, but those reviewers need to make some real friends because this was the most toxic, jealous, unhealthy friendship! The main character never feels anything but spite or envy towards her friend, and there was never any development in this.
I want to know how the characters turn out, but I can't sit through three more books of Lenu's perspective. A book with so much potential that unfortunately didn't do it for me.
Things I liked: the atmosphere of Naples - Ferrante really brings the neighbourhood and their culture to life. I liked the side characters a lot more than the main ones. I would have preferred almost a more general, cross-sectioned narrative showing what their life is like, rather than this zoomed-in look on Lenu and Lila.
Things I didn't like: Unfortunately, I found the main character so irritating that I could never relax into the narration. I'd seen this book praised as a brilliant portrayal of female friendship, but those reviewers need to make some real friends because this was the most toxic, jealous, unhealthy friendship! The main character never feels anything but spite or envy towards her friend, and there was never any development in this.
I want to know how the characters turn out, but I can't sit through three more books of Lenu's perspective. A book with so much potential that unfortunately didn't do it for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
Minor: Gun violence
mariebrunelm's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
When I opened My Brilliant Friend, I literaly recoiled from the list of characters, ha ha. But I was curious to read this immensely succesful book and to dicsover for myself what it was about. I was curious to read about Naples in the 1950s and the two friends, Elena and Lila, who had captivated so many readers.
Eventually, I was lost among all those characters, I didn't enjoy the writing style and I was tired of reading again a story about children growing up. However I kept reading because the pages turned themselves and because I liked how the author described a friendship like many others - in which the members grow together, apart and close again, without knowing how to define the bond that tie them together but without being neither able nor willing to cut it.
Eventually, I was lost among all those characters, I didn't enjoy the writing style and I was tired of reading again a story about children growing up. However I kept reading because the pages turned themselves and because I liked how the author described a friendship like many others - in which the members grow together, apart and close again, without knowing how to define the bond that tie them together but without being neither able nor willing to cut it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Gun violence, and Sexual assault
boy_topics's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Coming from an Italian family, this book hit close to home. The way the stories are told remind me of those my father and his siblings have recounted over the years. Ferrante is a beautiful writer, even in translation her storytelling is cutting. This book spoke to me and my heart. It is the first in a long time that I haven't been able to put down. I cannot wait to continue on with this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
notagreatreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Well, this book is sure an experience. An experience of a lot of violence. I did enjoy the setting of post-WWII Naples, certainly not a setting I've ever read a book about before. So that was kind of fascinating. Also fascinating - the dynamic between Lila and Elena and how they grow and change from little girls to young women. I also liked reading about Elena's fight, for the lack of a better word, for education, to do well at school and be allowed to go to school. I actually can't say if I enjoyed this book as a whole, but it was an engaging read without being a page turner. I guess that's what happens when there isn't an actual plot. The tension ebbs and flows in small waves but doesn't rise throughout the book. I quite like that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Gun violence
One of the main characters experiences dissociation a few times.
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