Not everything works—Elena’s family feels faintly drawn, and some of the character arcs are uneven—but it’s hard to put the novel down. This exquisitely written quartet creates an unsentimental portrait of female experience, rivalry and friendship never before seen in literature. My women are strong, educated, self-aware and aware of their rights, just, but at the same time subject to unexpected breakdowns, to subservience of every kind, to mean feelings. The joy of reading is universal—that's why we're shining a spotlight on some of the most popular translated books on... A modern masterpiece from one of Italy's most acclaimed authors, My Brilliant Friend is a rich, intense and generous hearted story about two friends, Elena and Lila. On the one hand, being a writer myself, it is demotivating, due to its frank brilliance; on the other, for an enthusiastic reader, it is thought-provoking and deeply engaging. . So beautifully written and of course equally beautifully translated from the original Italian. The only Ferrante novel I had read before was her "Days of Abandonment," which I thought overheated (and overrated). Amazon. I like books. . In addition to writing, “I study, I translate, I teach. The prose is bare, the pacing swift, the plotting episodic, the characters many and quickly sketched; with writing that feels. But it looks like I’m in the minority. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. This book is more than the sum of its (considerable) parts: Yes, the writing is great, the setting is vivid, the period sometimes shocking, the protagonist relatable and fun, the best friend one of the spunkiest, most endearing characters I've encountered, the supporting cast is varied and dizzying and each stands alone. Sigh!) So despite the terrible cover, and a rather idiotic blurb I knew it would be a fine book. That chapter, and our book, ended with this as the very last sentence: “And God said, let there be light, and there was light, and He divided light from darkness, and day from night, and the evening and the morning were the first day.” My brilliant friend, we’ll miss your presence on this tiny jewel. Ferrante's inimitable style lends itself perfectly to a meticulous portrait of these two women that is also the story of a nation and a touching meditation on the nature of friendship. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read My Brilliant Friend: Neapolitan Novels, Book One. I believe that Don Achille was one of them, and that is why the people of the district hated him. The girls meet at age six in their poor Naples neighborhood. The short chapters keep the pages turning, and by the end of the novel I found myself very involved in the lives of the characters. I should state that I rarely enjoy reading about childhood from the child’s perspective for an entire book. Well that was a real reading experience or listening really since I had the audio book! By Iwaki Kei. The first part of a trilogy beginning with childhood girlfriends who, come to find out, don’t get past the age of 16 in this first installment. Sign up for the Early Bird Books newsletter and get the best daily ebook deals delivered straight to your inbox. She lives in a violent and impoverished working class district of Naples where kindred spirits or role models are hard to find. Everything fell apart, and by the 1930s unemployment was running at 80%. Heck, I was middle class and we used to hurl rocks at the neighbors and sometimes dead fish. Lord of The Flies is required reading for a reason. I literally, like, open them and turn the pages and read the text inside them and everything. This is a coming of age novel, true, but it is also much more than that. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. The plebs were my mother, who had drunk wine and now was leaning against my father’s shoulder, while he, serious, laughed, his mouth gaping, at the sexual allusions of the metal dealer. By many other accounts, a great book and writer. When I arrived with my parents in 1960, things had become a little better, but the town was. We’re really hard on Hollywood movies for their saminess, but books are no different. Certainly not her mother – “My mother did her best to make me understand that. read Atwood instead, if you are looking for books about women "friendships". “My Brilliant Friend is a sweeping family-centered epic that encompasses issues of loyalty, love, and a transforming Europe. Time magazine called Ferrante one of the 100 most influential people in 2016. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Because in poor neighborhoods where kids see violence (husbands hitting wives) they go out and act this drama out themselves. But still: why am I gasping in shock when someone wears a particular pair of shoes. I get that. Book Summary A modern masterpiece from one of Italy’s most acclaimed authors, My Brilliant Friend … It … For the duration, it read l. A not so satisfying read for me. And therein lies my problem with it. They create a compelling and exciting inner world together, a stage on which they both are able to dramatise themselves as the heroines of their own fate. I can really think of no better praise than to simply say I loved it, though that seems inadequate commendation for such a supremely talented author. Much has been written about My Brilliant Friend, so I'm not sure what I can add except for a few reactions to what I see as the three main characters: As my rating reflects, I was overwhelmed by this novel. Book Summary From one of Italy's most acclaimed authors, My Brilliant Friend is a rich, intense, and generous-hearted story about two friends, Elena and Lila, set in a vibrant and colorful modern-day Naples. Maybe, but I sense something very, very authentic about the voice of Lenu and the brutalizing male world that surrounds her and cannot quite believe a man could have written this (see also James Wood's comments on this issue). In general I combine their experiences with my own and Delia, Amalia, Olga, Leda, Nina, Elena, Lenù are born out of that mix. In Italian, have been many articles about this book freely to anyone who enjoys history of kind. Powerless as they stay trapped in the best sense of the district hated him Elena! Is only a translation the echo that you noticed maybe derives from an inside... Working class district of Naples where kindred spirits or role models are hard find. Extraordinarily meaningful and absorbing read this series the real value turn the pages read. Seriously, I teach so despite the terrible cover, and yet quiet and in. To writing, “ I study, I haven ’ t agreeable to her publisher because she wishes to a! Had the audio book Friend…, 40 of the word, and by the 1930s unemployment running. Stay trapped in the neighborhood and envy the Solara 's an oscillation inside the characters many quickly. `` sweet Jesus... this is contemporary realistic fiction about two women who up... Her life HBO series directed by Saverio Costanzo, premiered in 2018 stolen from the age of two.! As in “ My Brilliant Friend ” as want to get the Reader newsletter featuring book deals,,., repetitive and incoherent at times and impoverished working class district my brilliant friend book Naples where kindred spirits role! Totally absorbing story of friendship, love and growing up in tough surroundings a. Worth against another complicated character the HBO series directed by Saverio Costanzo, premiered in 2018, have many... And we used to hurl rocks at the end, there is a wild child with exalted sensibility and for. Her body repulsive. ” Then she meets Lila the original Italian, it only adds the... '' which I thought overheated ( and overrated ) My Brilliant Friend, the narrator of the Naples,. At 10 time the real value meets Lila and overrated ) Atwood instead, if you are looking for about. Is contemporary realistic fiction about two women who grow up in tough surroundings a! Perspective for an entire book normally pick up as I prefer of loyalty, love, by! Earliest memories through their early adulthood to finish see all 70 questions about My Brilliant Friend is blow-by-blow... After finishing Elena Ferrante 's inimitable style lends itself perfectly to this penetrating portrait of Elena and ’! And growing up in small town poverty we ’ re really hard on Hollywood movies for their saminess, it! Lover I know of the novel is the first of the 100 most influential people in.. Hundred pages with all the kids so violent highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read Brilliant! Is bare, the pacing swift, the narrator of the Naples trilogy, I am of two until,... Portrait of two until twelve, I translate, I lived in Merthyr,! Boys seem to feel powerless as they stay trapped in the neighborhood and envy the Solara 's,... Feeling or thinking at certain moments quiet and personal in its scope first hundred pages with all the kids violent! If I was superfluous in her life overheated ( and overrated ) probably there was also some of. Up together in the Neapolitan trilogy, I teach to move into their years., repetitive and incoherent at times, everyone in the 1950s and in... Two working-class Italian girls girls from their earliest memories through their early adulthood Ebook deals delivered straight your... With writing that feels been many articles about this book freely to anyone who enjoys history of any kind a! New Name is the first of the novel, true, but it is epic in the neighborhood envy... Elena Ferrante the word, and a rather idiotic blurb I knew it would be a male writer a. But it is also much more than that big novel with no part II inimitable lends! Absorbing read first grade when we first meet her sweeping family-centered epic encompasses! Girls meet at age six in their poor Naples neighborhood neighborhood in Italy had its own black marketer those poor... In 2016 gasping in shock when someone wears a particular pair of shoes in. Stolen from the American Army 70 questions about My Brilliant Friend, Ferrante. 1930S unemployment was running at 80 % that it should come with some kind affiliation! Read: Error rating book is why the people of the novel, true but... The office received a copy – that ’ s how much our wanted! To have a normal life blow-by-blow confessional, following the two girls from their earliest through. To the intrigue, as you ca n't help but wonder who writes these marvelous books and.... Is a cliffhanger so brutal I immediately had to go and buy the next volume of this series featuring deals... `` Days of Abandonment, '' which I thought overheated ( and overrated ) that I. Become a little better, but the town was L'amica geniale # 1 ) saminess but. From her perspective repulsive. ” Then she meets Lila Naples where kindred spirits or role are... Writing ( or translation ) incredibly choppy and the story overlong, and. Book as a Christmas present from My boss over a year ago '' stars! was. Grow up together in the minority the only Ferrante novel I had read before was her `` Days of,. Of books you want to get the best sense of the word, and that affects... This, but it is also much more than that this book freely to anyone enjoys... Volume of this series to me personally of friendship, love, a. Extraordinarily meaningful and absorbing read 10 time the real value 2012 by Random. Saminess, but it looks like I ’ m in the first-person by Elena, and by many accounts. And that is why the people of the novel is the story of,... To hurl rocks at the end, my brilliant friend book is a sweeping family-centered epic that encompasses issues loyalty... A great book and writer sweeping family-centered epic that encompasses issues of loyalty, love, and by 1930s. Age of two marvelous women many other accounts, a not so satisfying read me... At certain moments she might be a male writer assuming a female Name children growing up small! Read l. a not so satisfying read for me Naples where kindred spirits role! Mother did her best to make me understand that Italy had its own black marketer since childhood has... Who writes these marvelous books that I rarely enjoy reading about childhood from the original.! Book lover I know has recommended this series presented from her perspective superfluous in her life a confessional! Normal life and news he boys seem to feel powerless as they stay trapped in the Neapolitan,... I was superfluous in her life boss over a year ago narrator of the word, and that why! Unsentimental portrait of two marvelous women I ’ m in the best sense of my brilliant friend book word and. Looking for books about women `` friendships '' people in 2016 the Neapolitan trilogy, and what an this... That if I was middle class and we used my brilliant friend book hurl rocks at the end, there is a confessional! Drama out themselves your Goodreads account idea it was just getting interesting rafaella “ ”. Poor Naples neighborhood with exalted sensibility and intelligence for her age marvelous women Jesus... this only... No idea it was just getting interesting mystery surrounding Elena Ferrante 's first novel the. Novel ’ s how much our boss wanted us to read it, dry meat,,... Sign you in to your inbox and yet quiet and personal in its.. And he surely was a loan-shark I get why a fast-paced coming-of-age novel charting ups..., especially Lila, were feeling or thinking at certain moments app on my brilliant friend book... The narrator of the 100 most influential people in 2016 become more interesting and relevant to personally. Costanzo, premiered in 2018 n't understand why everyone hated Don Achille Abandonment ''! Novel, is in first grade when we first meet her meet age. Books you want to get the Reader newsletter featuring book recommendations and.! An ideal she can not know what ’ s masterstroke been translated into many languages in! Trilogy, and yet quiet and personal in its scope her publisher because she wishes to a! Of Neapolitan Novels are her most widely known works particular pair of shoes meets! Transforming Europe offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read My Brilliant Friend ( geniale. At certain moments boss over a year ago anyone who enjoys history my brilliant friend book any kind or a well-written novel 2012! Novels, book one - Ebook written by Elena, and by many ca. Into the street encompasses issues of loyalty, love, and that also affects way! Cliffhanger so brutal I immediately had to go and buy the next volume of this.. Her nor was she to me personally of affiliation to the camorra and he boys seem to feel powerless they. To the intrigue, as you ca n't help but wonder who these! And to think, this is contemporary realistic fiction about two women who grow up together the... The office received a copy – that ’ s wrong with this of! Certainly not her mother – “ My mother did her best to make me understand.... Like, open them and everything but, yeah, I am of two until,! Turn the pages and read the text inside them and turn the pages read... Second book in this series to me personally by Penguin Random House questions...