Reviews tagging 'Infertility'

The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante

16 reviews

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

jmullins21's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, and Toxic friendship

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

culown's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

3.5

È davvero difficile dare un giudizio coerente a questo romanzo. 
Come nel primo dell'amica geniale la scrittura è fenomenale e coinvolgente, però non posso dire di aver apprezzato il libro. Devastante e deprimente non vedevo l'ora di finirlo ://
Controllare assolutamente i content warnings. 

Lo stupro iniziale imposta il tono di tutto il libro, veramente triste

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

boy_topics's review against another edition

dark hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.0

This book became tedious to me after a while. I was tired of the same storyline repeating itself over and over again. Lila and Elena are stuck in a cycle that repeats and again and again. I got bored and sad. The ending is a HUGE cliffhanger and truthfully I can't believe that this story continues for another two books. At the same time, I do love Ferrante's writing and I'm quite attached to the characters at this point. I need to know what happens but I'll be taking a break before moving onto the third book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

unphilosophize's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-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

4.0

I loved this book but find most of the characters so annoying
The style is so good
The imposter syndrome is real
Can’t wait to read the next book in the series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Pregnancy