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sadhbhprice's review against another edition
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Body shaming, Rape, and Grief
Minor: Pregnancy
chlschn's review against another edition
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Violence
ashlinvrf's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia and Sexual assault
njhokie14's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
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? Yes
2.75
I cant decide on my rating. The beginning was difficult to get in to and various characters confused me. I had to stop trying to remember who was related to who and what each persons job was. The end has me reeling. I am unsettled. I will need to read the next book in the quartet.
Content Warnings
Minor: Pedophilia
adies's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
i should've made notes on who's who
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia and Sexual assault
chiaragiselle's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia and Sexual assault
carojust's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
We're introduced to childhood friends Elena and Lila, growing up near Naples. Their relationship illustrates so much of what we endure in adolescence -- a competitiveness, inferiority, envy, awkwardness, a desperation to feel understood. And with all these feelings, Elena looks upon Lila with such purity of love and admiration. She is shaped by her friend's ideals and interests, and has a hard time finding her own identity beyond Lila's. Together, they try to navigate their difficult families, poverty, and the affections of boys.
This book drew me in slowly. Ferrante has incredibly dense prose, yet succinct. She describes her own character's writing this way, and its charm is inescapable. It takes so long to read, but you feel at home with the characters and cadence.
I wouldn't say this is a book where much happens, though it covers many years in their lives; there are repetitive themes and relationships that emphasize the rural, everyday life these characters trudge through. I think there's still a lot of subtle meanings I haven't picked up on, and need to sit with. But what I'm left with is a feeling of admiration for these two girls, who set their own standards high amidst a time and environment set against them.
Will continue reading the rest of the quartet and see how this goes!
This book drew me in slowly. Ferrante has incredibly dense prose, yet succinct. She describes her own character's writing this way, and its charm is inescapable. It takes so long to read, but you feel at home with the characters and cadence.
I wouldn't say this is a book where much happens, though it covers many years in their lives; there are repetitive themes and relationships that emphasize the rural, everyday life these characters trudge through. I think there's still a lot of subtle meanings I haven't picked up on, and need to sit with. But what I'm left with is a feeling of admiration for these two girls, who set their own standards high amidst a time and environment set against them.
Will continue reading the rest of the quartet and see how this goes!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
jamiebrew's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
kellylover86's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Lots of short chapters which helps move the book along. The book tells the story of two smart, quick friends, girls becoming women in 50s and 60s Italy. Deals some with themes of misogyny, lack of opportunities for women at that time, violent masculinity. It was hard to keep the characters straight. The cast of characters is pretty large and many have similar names.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault
lydiavsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Because of its slow pace and throwing you straight in with a big cast of characters, it took me a while to really get into this one. Around the halfway mark though, it had me.
A slow gentle story of two friends growing up together in 1950s Naples. A raw yet soft tale of adolescence in the context of the poverty, violence and misogyny of its setting. I started off unsure of whether this would be for me, but ended up really enjoying it and now invested in the story of these two women and where they'll go next.
A slow gentle story of two friends growing up together in 1950s Naples. A raw yet soft tale of adolescence in the context of the poverty, violence and misogyny of its setting. I started off unsure of whether this would be for me, but ended up really enjoying it and now invested in the story of these two women and where they'll go next.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault