Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante

116 reviews

heyheykk's review

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Suicide

Moderate: Sexual assault and Toxic friendship

serena_hien's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Violence, Grief, Confinement, Physical abuse, and Infidelity

anushareflects's review

adventurous dark emotional reflective medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

risemini's review

dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Infidelity, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Violence, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Grief, Misogyny, War, Blood, Confinement, Death, Abandonment, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape

maddalenacesco's review

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

gave me trust issues.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Abortion, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Violence

knkoch's review

challenging emotional reflective medium-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

4.0

I enjoyed this second installment in the Neapolitan quartet even more than the first. I found this teenage/young adulthood period in (MC) Elena and Lina's lives more eventful than their childhood, with bigger stakes and more connection to the other folks in the neighborhood, though the childhood events color the jealousies and decisions made, too. A blurb on the cover of my edition mentioned anger, and that clarified for me so much of the dynamic between the two women as well as their dealings with virtually all the men they (must) know. It's not so common to have stories so fully exploring women's anger in this way. 

The complexity of the relationships and mental experiences here are expertly dissected and recounted in Elena's first person narrative. I thought a lot about co-dependency, though I can't say I've seen that depicted between two friends in such a way before. Amidst the warmth and the intimacy of Elena and Lina's (or Lenú  and Lila's) bond, there is also negativity and resentment. That depth of feeling explored kept me engaged and curious throughout. When you're unbelievably close with someone, someone you've known since almost as far back as your lived memory stretches, how do they shape you? Is it for good, bad, or simply both? How do you grow together, or, how can you? If you grow in the same small space, you're bound to stunt each other, and yet, what a strange joy it must be to know another's mind and manner so well. The cost of such knowing to Elena's psyche is something the narrative is still spooling out, and and I look forward to the next installment to see how it all develops. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Miscarriage

Domestic abuse, rape:

the most difficult aspect of the narrative is the extensive physical abuse present in several marriages, including that of one of the main characters. Rape occurs several times in the midst of this. The physical violence in these relationships is quite graphically depicted.

gnomeyjo's review

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Violence, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Infidelity, and Sexual assault

andrea_h111's review

emotional reflective tense slow-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

vardik's review

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault

abbieh95's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse