Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Die Geschichte der getrennten Wege by Elena Ferrante

12 reviews

therecoveringbookworm's review

emotional reflective tense 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? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Classism, and Sexual violence

Minor: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy

jenni28's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

I’ve devoured this series - and I think this is probably my favourite of the three I’ve read so far.

It continues to story of Elena and Lila, now older, with children and at a point where their lives have gone in very different directions and the intimacy of their younger years has definitely waned. 

Like the other instalments of this series, the characters are quite infuriating. I think that they’re written in such a realistic way that you get angry at their many faults but can’t help feel empathetic for the difficult situations they find themselves in. 

What I really enjoyed about this novel is that it is set against the backdrop of Italy in the 1960s/1970s - the “Years of Lead” and all the political violence and upheaval that goes along with that. I think the book explores some political ideas without shoving it down your throat, and I found it interesting to get an insight into that volatile period in Italian history through the eyes of the characters in the book. 

I found the parts with Lila and the factory, the union campaign and the Communists and Fascist brawls, especially interesting, particularly given her central role in it. So often in these histories we get the story of the leaders of movements rather than the ordinary people who live through them and I found the account of Lila’s experience to be very thoughtful and believable.

I can really see why these books are so hyped. Can’t wait to start the last one!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual harassment, Police brutality, Classism, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Murder, Mental illness, Infidelity, Grief, Domestic abuse, Violence, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, and Abandonment

augie_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Classism, Death, Sexism, and Violence

Moderate: Rape, Infidelity, and Suicide

Minor: Suicide attempt

miller8d's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

This series is astonishing and is so deeply different and more disturbingly realistic than any other book I’ve ever read. Not realistic in that I relate to all the evil, but realistic in how each moment is described, how emotions and decisions flow into one another, how motivation is constructed within each person’s mind, and how life flows from dullness to shock and back and forth. i feel crazy

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Murder, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Police brutality, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Classism, Outing, Misogyny, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Gaslighting, Death, Sexism, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Domestic abuse

maddalenacesco's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

4.0

reenactment of “marriage story“ (I’ve never seen marriage story)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

dafni's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Classism, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship

radfordmanor's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Sexual content, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Classism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Violence, Death, Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Sexism

issyd23's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

So many twists and turns in the book - Lénu deserved so much better!!!!! 5⭐️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Racism, Violence, Sexism, War, Suicide, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, and Toxic friendship

jessthanthree's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Toxic friendship

readbycarina's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Death, Murder, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Kidnapping and Homophobia