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jenni28's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
I received the first of the Neapolitan Quarter as a Christmas gift and devoured it, but the second instalment I loved even more. I read this in almost one sitting!
This book made me feel a lot of things…
I went through a bit of a rollercoaster with almost every single character, on one page feeling compassion and empathy for their struggles, by the next feeling utterly enraged by their pettiness and self-centred attitudes.
Every character is so well-written, so believable and so enraging at times that you can’t help but be absorbed by their lives, by a story where not very much happens in terms of plot, but where I was totally glued to the page.
This book often gets sold as a book about female friendship, and I suppose that is true at the most basic level. But the parts that I found most compelling dealt with 1960s Italy, especially through the prism of class. Without being didactic, I think it was a beautiful exploration of how culture, family, friendships, social relations, communities and art are all affected by our class and our upbringing.
I was totally immersed in this book. Can’t wait to read the third instalment.
Graphic: Bullying, Grief, Sexual assault, Suicide, Rape, Domestic abuse, Classism, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Sexism, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Emotional abuse
radfordmanor's review against another edition
- 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
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
greatexpectations77's review against another edition
- 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
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