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4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Absolutely glued to this book for the past three days. The complex dynamic between Lina and Lenú was so compelling, and was underscored by their love and admiration for the other. A triumph of a book about women's friendships that had me sobbing in public places, a tangled love affair that had me tossing and turning when I finally had to put it down and shut the lights. I wish I could read it again for the first time.
Loved. Great character development and thought it was better than the first book. Really great interpersonal relationships and interesting commentary on class
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have so much love for this series and for our two best friends. Even when I didn't like them, I felt for them and that's a testament to Ferrante's writing. The whole story is so beautifully written, and it builds on the first part so well, I honestly enjoyed this book more than the first. Elena and Lila make so many painful choices, as if their competing with each other and performing for the other, or they simply see the road untraveled in the other and it hurts them. Just really fascinating and nuanced characters.
And so much interesting commentary around class as well as wealth and education. So many people see education as a way upwards, but competing with generational wealth and generational social capital is near impossible. And the added layer of sexism and all of the violence that's entailed, it's all just devastating to read. My favorite parts where in the second half when we explored these implications through Lila's and Elena's choices(Lila leaving Stefano and working in a factory and Elena seeing the limits of education as well as her complicated relationship with her family when she shares her successes). Just a very heartbreaking but beautiful story, I loved it so much, but I do need a break before I read the next one.
And so much interesting commentary around class as well as wealth and education. So many people see education as a way upwards, but competing with generational wealth and generational social capital is near impossible. And the added layer of sexism and all of the violence that's entailed, it's all just devastating to read. My favorite parts where in the second half when we explored these implications through Lila's and Elena's choices
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape
Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexism, Suicide
Minor: Death of parent
I was so glad to read the first volume of Ferrante's trilogy. I was listening to this one, but just couldn't care about the characters enough to finish. That is my fault, not Ferrante's.
“Cinematic” is a very apt description that I found in one of reviews in the prefacing pages. Open the cover and the movie in your head continues. This second instalment (it really is one story in four parts) is as good as the first. I find the series absolutely compelling. On to the next instalment!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
zwischen den plastisch heraufbeschworenen Witwen, Väter, ArbeiterInnen, Lesezirkel herumgeschwirrt
This is the faithful portrait of a typical Western patriarchal society in the brink of change. What did it take to keep women violently repressed? "Keep 'em pregnant, keep 'em locked up, beat 'em up", the Neapolitan men proclaimed every minute of every day, as many others everywhere else have done. Opportunity is a door opened with education, as cliché as that may sound. Even educated, Lenú cannot build herself up; she feels undeserving, never smart enough, intelligent enough, worthy enough. I keep reading to see when she will realize that what she has done with her life is not a small feat.