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milena's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kennedien's review against another edition
4.0
A very good end to the series. One of the most interesting female friendships I have ever read.
selfishxromance's review against another edition
5.0
Had me deeply invested on it from beginning to end and super sad that it was about to end and wouldn’t have the company of Elena and Lila no more :( The way they described Naples is just too realistic, and the story gets meta sometimes, so i think this one is my favorite of the whole saga. 100% recommended if you come from an Italian family and want a “report” on your roots, even though this is not an autobiography, it sheds a lot of details of the complicated emotions that women go thru on this particular setting (and hits too close to home)
madisonh31's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. Not as good as the prior three books but it did a good job wrapping up the series. I will miss these characters and their complexity. Must read series for anyone who enjoys historical fiction!
jilianh's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What. A. Journey.
Ferrante has created an absolute masterpiece with this series. There are many points that the characters are insufferable, and I had to really push through (in particular the third book and the first 28% of this finale) but my god what a payoff.
The depth of character and story I just consumed is unparalleled. I genuinely can't think of another series where I felt I knew the characters this well. Even secondary and tertiary characters are so incredibly developed. I feel like Elena and Lina are real people that I actually grew up and got old with. I love them, I hate them, and I am blown away at how realistically their lives have been painted for me. All of the characters (especially our protagonist Elena) make some HORRIBLE decisions, but unfortunately so do real people. Her thoughts are unfiltered and raw, unapologetically bouncing between her best and worst sides, reflecting in many ways the product of her environment and generation. The main characters are mean, caring, intelligent, selfish, jealous, loyal, spiteful, and strong. The reality is that most of us have many traits, often contradictory depending on the circumstances and the author captured that perfectly. It honestly made me realize how idealistic and inauthentic most protagonists feel. Most books characters fall into inherently good or bad categories, but this story everyone just feels human.
On top of that, the actual lives of this cast painted such a vivid picture of their city. I can't speak to how true to the experience of growing up in Naples in this era would have been, but I really felt present in this environment. In many ways I felt like I indirectly learned about Italy, brushing against politics, trauma, nature, societal norms, etc.
These four books are essentially one large one, and I can't even fully collect my thoughts on all of the themes tackled throughout this story. Friendship, feminism, grief, aging, loss, rivalry, love, relationships, family, ambition, time, politics, and so much more is wrapped in effectively. I wish I had read it with a friend so that we could discuss it at length over a wine night. Also, I loved the ending. The story is just so incredibly fleshed out and well-rounded, leaving so much room for reflection. You could easily write a full blown thesis or literature study on this series, with so many angles to approach from. Don't even get me started on the Solaras, Tina, or the dolls. This book is phenomenal. I am sure this will stick with me for years to come.
Ferrante has created an absolute masterpiece with this series. There are many points that the characters are insufferable, and I had to really push through (in particular the third book and the first 28% of this finale) but my god what a payoff.
The depth of character and story I just consumed is unparalleled. I genuinely can't think of another series where I felt I knew the characters this well. Even secondary and tertiary characters are so incredibly developed. I feel like Elena and Lina are real people that I actually grew up and got old with. I love them, I hate them, and I am blown away at how realistically their lives have been painted for me. All of the characters (especially our protagonist Elena) make some HORRIBLE decisions, but unfortunately so do real people. Her thoughts are unfiltered and raw, unapologetically bouncing between her best and worst sides, reflecting in many ways the product of her environment and generation. The main characters are mean, caring, intelligent, selfish, jealous, loyal, spiteful, and strong. The reality is that most of us have many traits, often contradictory depending on the circumstances and the author captured that perfectly. It honestly made me realize how idealistic and inauthentic most protagonists feel. Most books characters fall into inherently good or bad categories, but this story everyone just feels human.
On top of that, the actual lives of this cast painted such a vivid picture of their city. I can't speak to how true to the experience of growing up in Naples in this era would have been, but I really felt present in this environment. In many ways I felt like I indirectly learned about Italy, brushing against politics, trauma, nature, societal norms, etc.
These four books are essentially one large one, and I can't even fully collect my thoughts on all of the themes tackled throughout this story. Friendship, feminism, grief, aging, loss, rivalry, love, relationships, family, ambition, time, politics, and so much more is wrapped in effectively. I wish I had read it with a friend so that we could discuss it at length over a wine night. Also, I loved the ending. The story is just so incredibly fleshed out and well-rounded, leaving so much room for reflection. You could easily write a full blown thesis or literature study on this series, with so many angles to approach from. Don't even get me started on the Solaras, Tina, or the dolls. This book is phenomenal. I am sure this will stick with me for years to come.
anishachana's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kylee_books's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
anomys_'s review
5.0
Ma cosa ho letto?
Elena Ferrante, ma come scrivi?
Ho un vuoto nel petto dopo aver girato l'ultima pagina di questa lunga, smarginata, bellissima storia. E non riesco a formulare frasi di senso compiuto che possano renderle giustizia.
Fatevi un favore: leggetela!
Elena Ferrante, ma come scrivi?
Ho un vuoto nel petto dopo aver girato l'ultima pagina di questa lunga, smarginata, bellissima storia. E non riesco a formulare frasi di senso compiuto che possano renderle giustizia.
Fatevi un favore: leggetela!
booknerd334's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.0