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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!!!
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
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
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
m_elisabth's review against another edition
4.0
this is my first elena ferrante book and it wont be my last!! the way ferrante writes about growing up as a female and dysfunctional families is so complex and raw. i found myself relating to giovanni more than i expected which was slightly uncomfortable but it spoke to my heart.
i hope to read my brilliant friend soon !
i hope to read my brilliant friend soon !
tennilles's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
pandagourgh's review
3.0
After reading the Neapolitan Novels, reading this is a bit like visiting an old friend, but then feeling a bit disappointed afterwards because your friend was not as fun as you remember.
I feel for the main character in this story, I like an awkward and complicates female lead, however, it feels like the story doesn’f really evolve. The lesbian relationship with her friend is really interesting, but ends up pretty much ignored. The ending also feels quite abrubt. But the language and environments that Ferrante describes remain as beautiful as in the quadrilogy.
I feel for the main character in this story, I like an awkward and complicates female lead, however, it feels like the story doesn’f really evolve. The lesbian relationship with her friend is really interesting, but ends up pretty much ignored. The ending also feels quite abrubt. But the language and environments that Ferrante describes remain as beautiful as in the quadrilogy.
patbfer's review against another edition
4.0
The doubts, experiences of a young teenage girl that struggles with understanding adulthood, and especially, her family. It will get you curious and deeply anxious to know what’s next. I am sure you won’t be able to put it down, just like me.
sadhbhaine's review
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-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
3.0
justineb's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
As always, Ferrante’s writing is amazing. Her ability to understand youth of girls and the complexity of being alive and flawed is captured is this text. For me I found the story a bit too slow and I wanted a bit more depth in the end. Felt like an abrupt ending.
esraadel__'s review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content