Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante

4 reviews

jenni28's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

I’ve devoured this series - and I think this is probably my favourite of the three I’ve read so far.

It continues to story of Elena and Lila, now older, with children and at a point where their lives have gone in very different directions and the intimacy of their younger years has definitely waned. 

Like the other instalments of this series, the characters are quite infuriating. I think that they’re written in such a realistic way that you get angry at their many faults but can’t help feel empathetic for the difficult situations they find themselves in. 

What I really enjoyed about this novel is that it is set against the backdrop of Italy in the 1960s/1970s - the “Years of Lead” and all the political violence and upheaval that goes along with that. I think the book explores some political ideas without shoving it down your throat, and I found it interesting to get an insight into that volatile period in Italian history through the eyes of the characters in the book. 

I found the parts with Lila and the factory, the union campaign and the Communists and Fascist brawls, especially interesting, particularly given her central role in it. So often in these histories we get the story of the leaders of movements rather than the ordinary people who live through them and I found the account of Lila’s experience to be very thoughtful and believable.

I can really see why these books are so hyped. Can’t wait to start the last one!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Classism

miller8d's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

4.5

This series is astonishing and is so deeply different and more disturbingly realistic than any other book I’ve ever read. Not realistic in that I relate to all the evil, but realistic in how each moment is described, how emotions and decisions flow into one another, how motivation is constructed within each person’s mind, and how life flows from dullness to shock and back and forth. i feel crazy

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

maddalenacesco's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

4.0

reenactment of “marriage story“ (I’ve never seen marriage story)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

radfordmanor's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Classism