Scan barcode
eazurch's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I really liked this book, stayed up multiple evenings to finish it even. I like following Lila and Elena’s friendship over so many years and reading about all the interpersonal dynamics (while having the character list to refer back to).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
finleigh's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
ilovedyou's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship
selenatothemax's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, and Toxic friendship
kgorinshteyn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Toxic friendship
klor's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-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
3.0
The perspective of class, female friendships, and girlhood was so on point and portrayed as honest as they can be. It's sometimes violent, and petty, and vicious but it's also full of pent up emotion, and love, and devotion that makes it dynamic and complex. Ferrante's writing and imagery was gorgeous despite the very melodramatic plotline. This reminded me a lot of the telenovelas I've read growing up. While this book is highly regarded as one of the best novels/series of all time, I can't quite find anything too special in the plotline other than the instances I've mentioned. I got annoyed with like, 90% of the characters the more I progressed through the book, especially with our narrator. The pace picked back up again as the book came into a close. I'd love to check out Ferrante's other works but might take a bit before I come back to the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, and Classism
lindsaccount's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Gore, Homophobia, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
hippolyta_vi's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
For anyone who's ever had a best friend that they love with all their heart and would do anything for, but ultimately is the same person you compare yourself to, possibly in an unhealthy way, this book is for you.
This story is episodic, driven by characters vignettes not a grand adventure. Many people have said it's boring, but it's anything but. Ferrante pulls the reader into the lives of Lenù and Lila and their home town. You are an onlooker, rooting for characters while simultaneously hating them. Every character and their relationships to one another are complex and real.
I can't wait to see what the rest of the series has in store.
This story is episodic, driven by characters vignettes not a grand adventure. Many people have said it's boring, but it's anything but. Ferrante pulls the reader into the lives of Lenù and Lila and their home town. You are an onlooker, rooting for characters while simultaneously hating them. Every character and their relationships to one another are complex and real.
I can't wait to see what the rest of the series has in store.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Violence
adeliab's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Gun violence and Homophobia
jesscswaine's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
In these first few minutes of reflection, I really don’t know what to think about the book, but, I do know that I did not want it to end.
Throughout, I believed I had a good grasp on the characters and the narrative that was being told in this story. I thought I knew what I was expecting but in the end the book stopped in its tracks like a dead end or midway through a scene. It makes sense since it is part of a series, but it feels somewhat unjust to the journey this book alone traverses just to end it without the satisfaction of a closing action.
Bearing in mind how invested I became in the story in its middle section I am surprised by the lack of emotion it seemed to elicit. In that sense I am disappointed - i don’t mind shedding a few tears at a good book - because this story felt like it had more potential to be emotionally painful or gut wrenching at times but seemed, at least to me, to choose not to.
Maybe I did not approach the storyline with enough care, reading it quickly over a few days, which that is why it feels to have slipped away in the night. But at times - and despite the occasional lull in narrative or plot - Ferrante kept me on the edge of her words, drawing me back in.
In this way I believe the prologue is what kept me reading the book for the first 100 pages or so. The way you begin with a character aged around 60 and then begin the story when they are 6 could be done badly, but I believe those first few pages were masterfully done.
And, although the narrator frustrated me at times, specifically in her worship of Lila and reflections on herself and the other characters around her, all I had to do was remind myself that she was young, naive, lost in herself, her neighbourhood and her friendship and it all made sense. I could see any young girl (including myself) saying, feeling and believing the same things in Elena’s position. And, as the narrative progressed, flickers began to emerge of who she was to become on her own, her true thoughts, feelings and fears, glimpsed by the reader as if a promise waiting to be fulfilled.
I don’t know when I will find the time to read the whole series, but I know that most likely I will not be able to leave the story here.
Throughout, I believed I had a good grasp on the characters and the narrative that was being told in this story. I thought I knew what I was expecting but in the end the book stopped in its tracks like a dead end or midway through a scene. It makes sense since it is part of a series, but it feels somewhat unjust to the journey this book alone traverses just to end it without the satisfaction of a closing action.
Bearing in mind how invested I became in the story in its middle section I am surprised by the lack of emotion it seemed to elicit. In that sense I am disappointed - i don’t mind shedding a few tears at a good book - because this story felt like it had more potential to be emotionally painful or gut wrenching at times but seemed, at least to me, to choose not to.
Maybe I did not approach the storyline with enough care, reading it quickly over a few days, which that is why it feels to have slipped away in the night. But at times - and despite the occasional lull in narrative or plot - Ferrante kept me on the edge of her words, drawing me back in.
In this way I believe the prologue is what kept me reading the book for the first 100 pages or so. The way you begin with a character aged around 60 and then begin the story when they are 6 could be done badly, but I believe those first few pages were masterfully done.
And, although the narrator frustrated me at times, specifically in her worship of Lila and reflections on herself and the other characters around her, all I had to do was remind myself that she was young, naive, lost in herself, her neighbourhood and her friendship and it all made sense. I could see any young girl (including myself) saying, feeling and believing the same things in Elena’s position. And, as the narrative progressed, flickers began to emerge of who she was to become on her own, her true thoughts, feelings and fears, glimpsed by the reader as if a promise waiting to be fulfilled.
I don’t know when I will find the time to read the whole series, but I know that most likely I will not be able to leave the story here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault