Reviews

Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante

tabithare's review against another edition

5.0

I have tried to describe this series (and elena ferrante) a million times, in a million ways, but not a single one of them hs ever been able to capture the absolute rapturous nature of these books!! I don’t know why I can’t get enough but I could read a million of them

rexinpieces's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This is the third book of the Neapolitan Quartet. This time, it follows the lives of Elena and Lila from their mid-20s to early 30s.

Similar to the previous books, I love the writing because it’s giving gossip. I love how their struggles this time include politics, especially when it comes to their fight for the working class. I also like that when it comes to Elena’s views, sometimes she questions them, which seems realistic to me. I love Lila in this book more because she’s more active but less reckless than she was before.

I would have loved to see more real-life interactions between the two women, but I guess the long distance really did affect their friendship significantly. Because of this, the book feels more Elena-centric than ever.

Elena is infuriating in this book, especially towards the end. No spoilers, but she's really frustrating. As always, Ferrante knows how to give a cliffhanger that makes you want to jump to the next book ASAP. But I won't give in; the fourth book will have to wait until next month.

beabelotti's review against another edition

4.0

lenù che CAZZO FAI

alejandra_rr's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

anishachana's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense 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

4.5

ym3996's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

4.5

kylee_books's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-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

mayaeffaich's review against another edition

inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

yegua_blanca's review against another edition

4.0

Over these days I have become incredibly invested with these novels, the characters so vividly and effortlessly rendered by Ferrante. As Elena and Lila continue to grow up, they face new personal troubles, a changing political landscape - but the course of the novel remains bound to the setting of their youth, and it is the development of the characters through the space of multiple novels that makes this is all so satisfying to read. In particular, Elena's experiences with motherhood and marriage, and her increasing dissatisfaction and anger, are fascinating. I wish that the politics that make up the background were more focused, more central to the narrative. Still, Ferrante's writing remains direct and revelatory.

libbymaylen's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.75