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finleigh's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, and Infidelity
ktkeps's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Medical content, and Abandonment
flucillie's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
there’s so much nuance and no one was truly the villain. everyone had their own faults and did not necessarily (ish) want to cause harm. it’s a rollercoaster of emotions: trust, betrayal, and hope.
it follows a point in our lives when all we talk about is marriage, and then babies, and then the accomplishments and failures of our children, and then deaths.
ferrante intertwined the personal and the public so intricately. clearly, the external stressors forced the characters to act the way they did and believe the ideologies they had.
what really shined in this book was the complex female friendships. its sad but we end up competing with other women (whether deliberate or as a consequence) to gain some crumbs of rewards from this patriarchal society. despite the competition, we still find some comfort and solidarity in one another. ferrante illustrated so painfully realistically well the desperation to be desired by men. i felt so disgusted in my own skin knowing i pulled shit like that just to get attention and affection from men i barely burned for. it’s even more barf barf barf how at every turn, men will disappoint you and weaponize their incompetence and violent masculinity against you. it’s not surprising anymore (seeing this depicted in so many media and played out in my own life) but i’m still here hoping someone will prove me wrong wRONG ??!? 🫢
some people found the ending lackluster and vague. i think it was perfect for this story. life is exactly like that, vague. we will never get a definite answer from elena, our narrator, as she has finally decided to stop thinking about lila, the subject of the entire series, and has no more words left to immortalize her.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child abuse and Child death
Minor: Gun violence and Homophobia
zezeki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Infidelity, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Dysphoria
libbyhb's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Drug use and Homophobia
cassreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Hate crime, and Homophobia
aegireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Infidelity, Suicide, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Homophobia
lena04's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Kidnapping and Grief
Minor: Homophobia, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Transphobia, and Death of parent