Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

4 reviews

tourmalinequeen's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I read this for my book club. I did not expect to enjoy it. but here we are with a four star rating and partway through the sequel. It begins very slowly. The entire plot is the setting and characters, which is a departure from books I'd usually gravitate towards. 

The setting is vividly drawn, post-WW2 Naples, in an area full of poverty. The narrator is first-person pov and the other main character is the titular "brilliant friend" who is the sort of friend who is only a friend when it suits. And the characters are flawed; they argue, are prideful and petty and childish (they are children for most of the book to be fair), and utterly compelling. If one has something the other doesn't there is both support and jealousy, which is so human and real to me.

The pace is glacial, and it took me a good quarter-to-third of the book to get into it, but once I was hooked I was hooked. It got to a point where I would start the audiobook just to ensure I got through the slog, but after so many chapters I realised I was looking forward to finding out what happened next. It sneaked up on me, and I am so glad it did.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

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: 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

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

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

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

karenaerts's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, and Grief

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Alcohol