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A review by 5aru
The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
You know how it's said that adults don't remember what it was like to be a teenager? Well, Elena Ferrante does.
While some of Giovanna's experiences won't resonate with everyone, I remembered so much of my own teenage years as I was reading — so much of that emotion rang true to me. I was really taken in by Ferrante's insightful exploration of Giovanna's character, and the writing style is wonderfully readable, while preserving its poetry and a certain, simmering rage underneath that really resonated with me.
While some of Giovanna's experiences won't resonate with everyone, I remembered so much of my own teenage years as I was reading — so much of that emotion rang true to me. I was really taken in by Ferrante's insightful exploration of Giovanna's character, and the writing style is wonderfully readable, while preserving its poetry and a certain, simmering rage underneath that really resonated with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Infidelity
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship