The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
babybel's review against another edition
5.0
you expect every book to end in a completely different place than where you began it. this one was like that, but times a thousand. we see our characters ending this novel in the most opposite direction in which they started it wow wow wow. ferrante was able to take the previous story and expand upon it so much. i liked the first book a decent amount but i LOVED this one.
lena is truly so fascinating but the harsh and shining reality of the story is that lena finds entertainment and fulfillment in lila’s life, and so does the reader. i feel for lena and i see all of myself in her. she waits for life to come and get her, constantly wishing that she could be someone other than who she truly is. she lives through lila, and that’s what makes her emotions so complex. the jealousy and rage and longing and love are all so entirely real because that is what it feels like to focus your life on a single person, and wish so badly for the things that they have.
ferrante is able to create a story that is so goddamn relatable that it’s frightening. her prose is inquisitive and menacing. she takes the dark lives of our characters, their familial situations and financial status, and plays them out in complete clarity. the town they live in is gloomy and depressing. but then there are moments of beautiful light, flying kites on the beach or eating a wonderful meal that bring the emotions back down to earth. the day to day complexities of being alive are fleshed out so well and it’s such an emotional moment to feel what these characters feel.
starstruck. i cannot wait to continue on
lena is truly so fascinating but the harsh and shining reality of the story is that lena finds entertainment and fulfillment in lila’s life, and so does the reader. i feel for lena and i see all of myself in her. she waits for life to come and get her, constantly wishing that she could be someone other than who she truly is. she lives through lila, and that’s what makes her emotions so complex. the jealousy and rage and longing and love are all so entirely real because that is what it feels like to focus your life on a single person, and wish so badly for the things that they have.
ferrante is able to create a story that is so goddamn relatable that it’s frightening. her prose is inquisitive and menacing. she takes the dark lives of our characters, their familial situations and financial status, and plays them out in complete clarity. the town they live in is gloomy and depressing. but then there are moments of beautiful light, flying kites on the beach or eating a wonderful meal that bring the emotions back down to earth. the day to day complexities of being alive are fleshed out so well and it’s such an emotional moment to feel what these characters feel.
starstruck. i cannot wait to continue on
stavoosh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
The writing is so good it hurtssss. This one involved more difficult subject material which is why it's slightly less better than the first in my opinion. I'm still so enthralled by Lila's magnetism and how Elena's life seems to ebb and flow with hers. I love them both so much and I also hate them deeply. Excited to read the next one...
kilig's review against another edition
5.0
第一本还蛮平的，直到后半部才渐入佳境。这本真的很棒，让人欲罢不能，一口气顺着读完。女性间隐秘又微妙到难以描述表达的情感都可以在书里找到投射。
andreiapmartins's review against another edition
5.0
A rivalidade não-declarada entre as duas amigas inseparáveis continua neste livro, mas de forma muito mais arreabatadora e surpreendente. Se o primeiro volume me agradou pela visão inocente e a linguagem dos sonhos a serem dilacerados pela realidade, este livro fá-lo de forma muito mais cruel e violenta, que vai acompanhando a chegada à idade adulta. As duas personagens principais continuam a surgir muito bem construídas: tal como as pessoas são contraditórias, pouco lineares, mentem, iludem-se e iludem os outros, têm pensamentos e atos dos quais não se orgulham. É uma leitura viciante que nos envolve na história daquelas duas crianças que entretanto se tornaram mulheres. As descrições do bairro, os destinos de pobreza e as desgraças constantes deixam o leitor claustrofóbico, como se também ele estivesse em Nápoles. Parto para o terceiro volume com muito mais vontade e curiosidade do que quando comecei o segundo.
prettyfairygirl's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Revolutionary.
digitalfaeiry's review against another edition
4.0
Not as good as the first one. Nevertheless, read it in two days, kept me hooked. A bit too much teenage drama for my taste, but still well written. Can't wait to finish the next one.
keirarudrum3's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
mika_pages'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
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
emilybaum's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
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? Yes
4.0