Reviews tagging 'Classism'

Meine geniale Freundin by Elena Ferrante

28 reviews

dreamersmind's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Violence, Death of parent, and Classism

raisinreads's review against another edition

3.0

I know this is universally loved & there were factors of it I definitely enjoyed, but it just didn't quite hit for me, felt underwhelming in a lot of ways

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Classism

kaiulanilee's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Classism

kelleykamanda's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A slow but captivating story of friendship, class, womanhood, and identity. Really loved and felt engaged. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Violence, and Classism

lydia_reads's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Gun violence, Violence, and Classism

danidamico's review against another edition

3.5

(Solamente voy a referirme a la versión traducida al inglés)

My Brilliant Friend fue una de mis lecturas más anticipadas durante un par de años; siempre incluía al libro en mi lista de pendientes para leer. Todos parecen amar esta novela (y tetralogía) de Ferrante, por eso siento que hay algo que me perdí, ya que no sentí lo mismo. El libro me gustó, lo leí en pocos días de principio a fin porque evidentemente logró captar mi interés, pero no me conmovió como esperaba. Para amar un libro necesito que me conmueva, que me haga llorar o reír, que me impacte de algún modo, que me incomode. Que me haga sentir algo. Lamentablemente en este caso el estilo narrativo impidió que conectara con lo que iba pasando en el relato, no sé si es culpa de la traducción, pero la escritura me pareció torpe, dura, poco evocativa. Todo el tiempo sentía que estaba leyendo una traducción, cosa que, en mi opinión, no debería pasar si el texto fluye. Por eso es que, si bien me enganché con las vidas de Lenu y Lila, no llegué a formar un vínculo emocional. 

Sí me gustó la forma en la que Ferrante aborda el clasismo, la diferencia entre clases sociales y todo lo que eso genera, también el progreso repentino que surgió en Italia después de la Segunda Guerra. Se abordan varios temas que me interesan muchísimo, cómo la violencia contra las mujeres en una sociedad tan machista. En fin, creí que iba a volverme loca con este libro, parecía tener todos los elementos necesarios para atraparme, sin embargo el tono, el estilo narrativo, la traducción (?) impidieron que realmente conectara. No voy a seguir con la tetralogía, tengo demasiados libros pendientes y siento que no vale la pena continuar con esta saga; lo que sí probablemente haga en algún momento es mirar la serie de HBO, creo que eso me engancharía mucho más. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, and Classism

issyd23's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• 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

BRB reading everything Elena Ferrante has ever written 5⭐️

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

becksusername's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense 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

I can't wait to get my hands on book two!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Stalking, Sexual harassment, and Classism

katrinarose's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

This was a really interesting book, the friendship between Lenu and Lila is so complicated. I wanted them to stick together more and it was sad to watch them go on separate paths for reasons out of their control. They are both such interesting characters. The chapters were short and easy to read but I also felt like the book was a bit slow; there was almost no plot so that is a major thing to consider before deciding to read this. I thought about removing another half star for the times where it felt like it dragged, but I think that was almost the purpose. This is a story of their lives, not a typical conflict-driven plot with a climax and conclusion, so it felt wrong to rate it like it was. I think I will continue with the second book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Violence

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Cursing, Homophobia, Infidelity, and Death of parent

paulawind's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I don’t get how some people might speculate that the author under Ferrante’s pen name is a man because no man could write woman like this, even more the friendship dynamics of Lila and Elena. This is a piece of brilliant writing which shows the beautiful, ugly truth of people closest to us who we love to hate, who are pieces of our souls, ones who define who we are as people. 

I can’t wait to read the rest of the series and what trajectory those binary stars will take - closer or away from each other, how will their friendship progress and how will they develop as people. This novel is a perfect example of writing about the most mundane life in such a captivating way that you feel as if you were reading about lives of famous individuals 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Blood, and Classism