Reviews tagging 'Murder'

De geniale vriendin by Elena Ferrante

32 reviews

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).

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

radfordmanor's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

_shonahenderson's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Stalking, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Violence, Murder, and Classism

lindseyhall44's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

My Brilliant Friend is a highly regarded international treasure, focusing on a female friendship in 1950’s+ Naples. While I cannot relate to Elena (our narrator) in a environmental or physical sense, her connection with Lila embodies so much of my own relationships from adolescents to now. It’s resonance with readers spanning multiple years highlights Ferrante’s brilliant (haha see what I did there) ability to articulate the human experience, many events of which I am still trying to put together with words.
I cannot wait to continue on with the rest of the Neapolitan series, and Ferrante’s backlist in general.
After checking trigger warnings, I would highly highly recommend if you enjoy character based novels!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Mental illness, Murder, and Gaslighting

laurenleigh'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is one of those novels where there’s very little action, but there’s just something about it that engrossed me. A sign of very good writing, and an especially good translation! The way this narrator looks at the world is both unique and relatable. The part where the girls learn about the recent past and its atrocities (WWII, fascism, etc.) is really sticking out in my mind. I didn’t read in print, but there’s a poignant line about suddenly recognizing that every place and custom and institution is rooted in history from before your birth, for better or for worse. I can’t do it justice in a quick recap! I’d argue the 1950’s and 60’s are often mythologized here in America, and I found it fascinating to see a new perspective on that time period, in a more rural Italian setting. That these girls were in adolescence and had never been in a car! Wild. I don’t think I’m desperate to start the sequel right away, if at all, but I thought this novel was very well done.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, and Murder

mts's review against another edition

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

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

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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

kowtherq's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

 I loved this!!

To the naked eye, this book might seem a little slow with not much happening throughout it.
On the contrary, so much constantly happens throughout this book. It was gripping from start to finish. It is a book that deals with so many themes, class being an important one. I enjoyed how this book deeply explores the friendship between Elena and Lila in all its complexity throughout childhood and adolescence, and how it was impacted by their different changing lives. This book also deeply speaks to the idea of community and what it means to be a part of one.

As I mentioned, class is a central theme in this book. It isn't sugarcoated either so it is refreshing to see it dealt with in such a real manner. From the disdain of the poorer families towards the rich family to their envy and wanting money, to having to choose between education and family due to money constraints, and even wealth affecting their relationships.

I wasn't planning on picking up the rest of the books in the series, but now I think I will! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault and Classism

Minor: Murder

breadwitchery's review against another edition

challenging 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Blood, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Ableism, Child death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and War

sophiemd's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, and Toxic friendship