Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - The Lying Life of Adults

Ferrante can seriously write. This book really compels you to keep reading, even when the experience is not pleasant. There’s a lot to say about girlhood and adolescence here, treated with complexity not often given to girls. But the ending is terrible.

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lizetteratura's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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

4.5

Despite all their claims to being different, they seemed to be made of the same clay.

a dramatic coming of age story about a girl navigating the messy lives of important adults in her life and a dive in how lying and infidelity affect every aspect of a young developing persons life. one of my fav elena ferrante stories so far.

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courtneyfalling's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-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

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, and I liked it so much. This captures the intense interiority of girlhood SO WELL. I loved Giovanna's voice. It's much less plot-driven and much more rumination on Giovanna's life and aging, but I loooooove a book that can really get into the surreal darkness of childhood. I WILL be reading more Elena Ferrante.

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bethvance's review against another edition

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emotional medium-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

4.0

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mikebond's review against another edition

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Un libro troppo crudo ed esplicito che, inizialmente, mi aveva ricordato "Lessico famigliare" di Natalia Ginzburg, salvo poi prendere una piega diversa.
Mi era piaciuta tanto la tetralogia dell'Amica geniale, ma questo libro non sono riuscito a continuarlo.

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