Reviews tagging 'Classism'

The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante

9 reviews

nadiaherondale's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I enjoyed this one quite more than the first one, maybe It's cause I'm already invested on the characters or maybe it was the pacing. Once again we submerged ourselves into Lenu and Lina's world of violence, poverty and money (a central theme on this one specially), friendship and the hardships of being female. Nino Sarratore is exactly the kind of man I hate (pretends to be the good stuff and it's actually the worst of all) and the ending gave me chills, just when I thought Lenu was out of reach. At some points of the story I hated Lina with passion, I think it's just what the author intended since it's supposed to be Lenu's narrative and her feelings strongly bleed into the writing, and I actually loved that. All in all I'm excited to keep the series and see what we get ourselves into on the next one, now that both Elena and Lila seem to have escaped the neighborhood up to some point.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Violence, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Sexism, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Death of parent, Infertility, Miscarriage, Body shaming, and Classism

radfordmanor's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Infidelity, Body shaming, Dementia, Bullying, Classism, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Death, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Stalking, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Toxic friendship

samarakroeger's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

I liked this so much more than the first book!  While it felt like I was dragging my feet through parts of My Brilliant Friend, I was hooked to this one. This book follows them from the ages of 15-23, focusing on Lenu’s pursuit of education and Lila’s tumultuous and abusive marriage. 

If I thought the first book had kill all men energy, then it is even stronger here. Every single man is downright terrible here. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Rape, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Classism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Misogyny, and Miscarriage

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.75

Books have rarely hit me as hard as those in the Naples series. It may be the first time I learned that it was okay for a female character to be unknowable. It's just really incredible.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Rape, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny

Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Bullying, Chronic illness, and Classism

Minor: Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Abortion, and Blood

issyd23's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

This book ripped my heart out and tore it into a thousand pieces!! Trigger warning for teen heartbreak 5⭐️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Violence, Sexual harassment, Classism, Pedophilia, Rape, Toxic friendship, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

ktkeps's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Ableism, Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Death

theyley's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Misogyny, War, Classism, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence

lindseyhall44's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

5.0

“Even if your better than me, even if you know more things, don’t leave me.”
The complexities of the female friendship  is a concept I have always noted in my life, yet struggled to articulate. However, Ferrante puts these universal experiences into words, so captivating and raw that the reflections of my life becomes clearer.
The Story of a New Name follows Elena and Lila, two friends on different paths, as their lives diverge and reconvene on the cusp of adulthood.
Although the environment and lifestyle situation of Lila and Elena vary dramatically from my own, I can’t help but see fragments of my past relationships in theirs. The care and precision of the intertwining plot lines envelops the reader into the lives of these women, creating a searing glimpse into the politics, class, and social elements of 1950’s Naples Italy. It truly feels like I am growing up with Elena and Lila, and their perspective is not one I would want to lose to the world.
This is a brilliant read, and I would recommend to anyone interested (though please check trigger warnings).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Infertility, Rape, Abandonment, Abortion, Classism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Sexual violence

zezeki's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Classism, Violence, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Rape