Reviews

A Vida Mentirosa dos Adultos by Elena Ferrante

jlsjourneys's review against another edition

4.0

I love Ferrante, the exceptional way she gets into the inner life of women & how we live in relationship with each other. This is described as a story of a adolescent girl on the cusp of adulthood; and wow - the adulthood around her is rather bleak, and so is much of this book. The ending was … well, let’s go with “upsetting.” Not a hopeful book, and not Ferrante’s best IMHO, but still worth the read for her fans.

leah_alexandra's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

4.0

Ferrante can seriously write. This book really compels you to keep reading, even when the experience is not pleasant. There’s a lot to say about girlhood and adolescence here, treated with complexity not often given to girls. But the ending is terrible. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Violence, and Sexual content

sgs's review against another edition

challenging funny reflective fast-paced

4.0

Ferrante’s writing is so unique and fun and graphic and thought-provoking! 

I was really disappointed in the ending; it felt predictable and like it was there for “shock value”. Otherwise, I loved reading this. 

davidglztowns's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny relaxing sad fast-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

4.25

bettina_evelyn's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

2.5

khawlah's review against another edition

3.0

3.5

f_ketta's review against another edition

funny reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

louvs's review against another edition

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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

reading this in naples was a necessary experience
elena ferrante! i love u! she’s so brilliant at getting to the core of the adolescent female mind as it grapples with existence through womanhood, as well as exploring how this development of the young female self intersects with complex family&community relationships. it was an uncomfortable and generally aimless narrative, exactly what it needed to be to convey the the turbulent, overwhelming ride that is adolescence, but as a consequence i wouldn’t say i particularly enjoyed the process of reading it or particularly felt a strong love for giovanna. but that’s what it needed to be for it to fulfil its purpose - i loved its reflections, loved its gritty realism, and loved how absorbing and real the complex network of characters felt. i just can’t rate it higher though because i just can’t fully subscribe to the perspective on life that it puts forward, like yes existence and relationships are ugly and complicated but i need at least a bit of brightness!!!

chrisramos_readingrecord_2024's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

laurabraith's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75