Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

La amiga estupenda by Elena Ferrante

19 reviews

risemini's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Pedophilia, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Murder, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, War, Ableism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, and Racism

angelinlagace's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual content

girlsiread's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

no one can write girlhood like elena ferrante. it’s so unsettling, raw, but so deeply realistic. it explores the politics of italy, mother-daughter relationships, poverty, the male gaze, and friendship all in one and i’m just so obsessed. finished it on my kindle and instantly went to purchase the rest of the series. ty elena ferrante. and here’s to women in translate month :*

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Mental illness, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Pedophilia

lydia_reads'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

Minor: Classism, Violence, and Gun violence

katrinarose's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

This was a really interesting book, the friendship between Lenu and Lila is so complicated. I wanted them to stick together more and it was sad to watch them go on separate paths for reasons out of their control. They are both such interesting characters. The chapters were short and easy to read but I also felt like the book was a bit slow; there was almost no plot so that is a major thing to consider before deciding to read this. I thought about removing another half star for the times where it felt like it dragged, but I think that was almost the purpose. This is a story of their lives, not a typical conflict-driven plot with a climax and conclusion, so it felt wrong to rate it like it was. I think I will continue with the second book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Child abuse

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Body shaming, Classism, Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Minor: Cursing, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Homophobia

anna_catherine73's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This series from Ferrante is an absolute triumph, each book as enthralling as the last. I couldn’t recommend this series more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual content, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Violence, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

calireisreading's review against another edition

challenging 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

This book is a very interesting exploration of the friendship and rivalry between the two main characters, but also of the social context they are in. I found their relationship to be realistic and complex, and the author did an outstanding job at describing its nature, both through their interactions and through the narrator's own account. They live in a difficult social context, and I advise reading the content warnings as the book often mentions and occasionally depicts violence. The writing style is great, simple, but expressive; the narration flows effortlessly, with occasional descriptions that are very well balanced by action and never interrupt the flow too harshly.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Child abuse

Minor: Sexual content

The setting is a poor neighborhood in 1950s Naples, where life is hard and people live in poverty. In this context, the social rules and customs presented in the story are quite backwards compared to today's, so the book contains sexist and classist remarks which are, however, directly or indirectly challenged and questioned throughout the story.

_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, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Body shaming, Stalking, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

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

grobe_liz's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense slow-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? It's complicated

“My Brilliant Friend”, translated from Italian, catalogues in detailed scope the early childhood and adolescence of two best friends growing up in a poor Italian neighborhood in the climate of the 1960s. Told in the POV of Elena we see her family, best friend Lila, and the harsh community through her eyes as she grows-up alongside it. Elena brings to her narration moments of intense clarity and authenticity that make her story come to life in rare form. The complexity of Elena and Lila’s friendship is painful, honest, and is exactly what I hoped it would be when I read the reviews for this book. The ending of  “My Brilliant Friend” was entirely too cruel and so naturally I am going to reach for the next book asap.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Minor: Gun violence and Sexual content

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Death

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, and Grief

Minor: Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Homophobia, and Gore