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friendly_neighborhood_grandma's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury
risemini's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
issyd23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
katrinarose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse and Violence
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Cursing, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Death of parent
ekg's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Moderate: Cursing and Domestic abuse
hippolyta_vi's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Violence
breadwitchery's review against another edition
- 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
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
knowmadic_369's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I don't doubt for a moment that My Brilliant Friend will be my best read of 2021. Ferrante's emotive writing stirred a slight obsession in me and led me to do something I've never done before: immediately reread a book. The story embedded firmly in my mind and I had the need to learn and understand their stories more deeply. I'm insanely happy to know that there are three more books to read in this series and that I won't say goodbye to these characters for some time.
The amazing characterization is best experienced in the beautifully complex relationship between Elena and Lila. The dynamics of their relationship are intricate and at times slightly harmful. Even though you can clearly see the love and admiration they have for each other, particularly Elena's passions, there is a dominant strife between them. In some ways, these girls are polar opposites and Elena frequently, at times somewhat obsessively, comments on their differences. Elena is the sturdy, reliable, good character; Lila is the unpredictable, turbulent, bad character. They are both intelligent, but wheras Elena's intelligence stems from hard work, Lila's brilliance seemingly comes natural and thus Elena feels the need to compete and keep up. You can say that the rivalry between them originated in this academic sphere, but then evolved to more social domains later on in the book when the older girls started attracting the attention of boys. From start to finish, you clearly see how both girls, not just Elena, envy one another and how their self-worth is dependent on how they measure up against each other. It's a turbulent relationship and Ferrante depicts it artfully.
One aspect of the novel that left a bitter taste in my mouth was how young the girls are in relation to the book's events. In our current time, we would shudder at the thought of a 16-year-old marrying a 20-something. But in the story, it was encouraged, almost forced, and it feels wrong to place such a big life-changing event on what is undeniably still a young girl. I didn't pick up on this slight discomfort in my first time reading My Brilliant Friend, but it was much more prominent in the second reading.
No doubt this book won't be for everyone, but what I definitely am sure about is that My Brilliant Friend is a good book, a skillful and artful composition with numerous great qualities.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, Murder, and Sexual harassment
soli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Cursing, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault
nirnaeth's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Grief