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. 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.
The story begins in the 1950s, in a poor but vibrant neighbourhood on the outskirts of Naples. Growing up on these tough streets the two girls learn to rely on each other ahead of anyone or anything else. As they grow, as their paths repeatedly diverge and converge, Elena and Lila remain best friends whose respective destinies are reflected and refracted in the other. They are likewise the embodiments of a nation undergoing momentous change. Through the lives of these two women, Ferrante tells the story of a neighbourhood, a city, and a country as it is transformed in ways that, in turn, also transform the relationship between her protagonists, the unforgettable Elena and Lila.
Ferrante is the author of three previous works of critically acclaimed fiction: "The Days of Abandonment, Troubling Love," and "The Lost Daughter." With this novel, the first in a trilogy, she proves herself to be one of Italy's great storytellers. She has given her readers a masterfully plotted page-turner, abundant and generous in its narrative details and characterizations, that is also a stylish work of literary fiction destined to delight her many fans and win new readers to her fiction.
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[This morning Rino telephoned. I thought he wanted money again and I was ready to say no. But that was not the reason for the phonecall: his mother was gone]***
(Europa Editions, 10 May 2014 (first published 19 October 2011), ebook, borrowed from my library)
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This is my first time reading the author.
I really enjoyed My Brilliant Friend. I have a soft spot for book about friendship so this was right up my street.
My Brilliant Friend is narrated in the first person by Elena. I loved first person narration when it's right because it works really well. I really like Elena's voice as she explores her friendship with Lila and also her life and culture.
I thought the novel honestly explored enduring friendship. Elena and Lila are very different. At first Elena, because she's smart seems to be the superior friend. However, as they grow up and their lives start to go in different directions their roles are almost reversed.
I thought My Brilliant Friend was a great read and I plan to read more by this author.
NB: I hated the cover, though. Awful.
