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katrinarose's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a really interesting book, the friendship between Lenu and Lila is so complicated. I wanted them to stick together more and it was sad to watch them go on separate paths for reasons out of their control. They are both such interesting characters. The chapters were short and easy to read but I also felt like the book was a bit slow; there was almost no plot so that is a major thing to consider before deciding to read this. I thought about removing another half star for the times where it felt like it dragged, but I think that was almost the purpose. This is a story of their lives, not a typical conflict-driven plot with a climax and conclusion, so it felt wrong to rate it like it was. I think I will continue with the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Child abuse
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Body shaming, Classism, Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Minor: Cursing, Death of parent, Infidelity, and Homophobia
kell_xavi's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Poverty. School. Friendship. Shoes. Adolescence. Out of such well-known and simple concepts, Ferrante spins an intricate network of emotions, of characters that brings such lustre and clarity to her story. Set mainly in a poor neighbourhood in Naples, the author sets the scene of the novel with gossip about violence on her block, secret love affairs and condemned men, fraught domestic lives. She expands from here, into the alluring friendship between Lila and Lenu (Elena); they take us not outside the claustrophobia of the neighbourhood, but rather, deeply into fear and dominance, imagination, enriching conversation, jealousy and rivalry, and a bond between two people who know each other best.
Ferrante’s story is often quietly dramatic, matter-of-fact in its revelations. Even as the story increases in complexity (as does the setting, with prosperity in small stores, new cars, dating), Lenu and Lila remain the focus. Told in first person with Lenu as narrator, she explores Lila’s story alongside her own. Their growing up is very much together, the moments that are Lenu’s alone serving to tell us more about her ways of seeing, her experience and perspective—which then she brings to her friends.
The last chapters of the novel build towards a climax that we anticipate and fear alongside the two young women. Lila is somewhat changed, subdued, her stubbornness and creativity confined within her. Lenu observes, saddened, emboldened to leave and not be made small. Difficult conflicts ebb and flow, rushing hard and fast towards the girls with little warning. And right at the end, Ferrante gives us a sequence so expected and yet starling to the core. And there she leaves us.
The strongest work is this realist novel is emotional. The writing holds so much empathy for the characters, awareness of their needs, that what we feel is so close to their own warmths and chills. Lila, under Lenu’s constant gaze, grows from a harsh, daredevil child into an academic sensation into a hard-working, confident girl into a beauty, and page by page, we grow to understand her. Lenu is a softer, more predictable child, but she gains confidence as well, through hard work studying and taking care of those around her. By fifteen, I loved them both, felt proud of who they were becoming, and looked forward to seeing them through the series to its end.
Ferrante’s story is often quietly dramatic, matter-of-fact in its revelations. Even as the story increases in complexity (as does the setting, with prosperity in small stores, new cars, dating), Lenu and Lila remain the focus. Told in first person with Lenu as narrator, she explores Lila’s story alongside her own. Their growing up is very much together, the moments that are Lenu’s alone serving to tell us more about her ways of seeing, her experience and perspective—which then she brings to her friends.
The last chapters of the novel build towards a climax that we anticipate and fear alongside the two young women. Lila is somewhat changed, subdued, her stubbornness and creativity confined within her. Lenu observes, saddened, emboldened to leave and not be made small. Difficult conflicts ebb and flow, rushing hard and fast towards the girls with little warning. And right at the end, Ferrante gives us a sequence so expected and yet starling to the core. And there she leaves us.
The strongest work is this realist novel is emotional. The writing holds so much empathy for the characters, awareness of their needs, that what we feel is so close to their own warmths and chills. Lila, under Lenu’s constant gaze, grows from a harsh, daredevil child into an academic sensation into a hard-working, confident girl into a beauty, and page by page, we grow to understand her. Lenu is a softer, more predictable child, but she gains confidence as well, through hard work studying and taking care of those around her. By fifteen, I loved them both, felt proud of who they were becoming, and looked forward to seeing them through the series to its end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Violence
Minor: Pedophilia and Sexual assault
grobe_liz's review
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
“My Brilliant Friend”, translated from Italian, catalogues in detailed scope the early childhood and adolescence of two best friends growing up in a poor Italian neighborhood in the climate of the 1960s. Told in the POV of Elena we see her family, best friend Lila, and the harsh community through her eyes as she grows-up alongside it. Elena brings to her narration moments of intense clarity and authenticity that make her story come to life in rare form. The complexity of Elena and Lila’s friendship is painful, honest, and is exactly what I hoped it would be when I read the reviews for this book. The ending of “My Brilliant Friend” was entirely too cruel and so naturally I am going to reach for the next book asap.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Minor: Gun violence and Sexual content
blueberryhotel's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
300 pages to finally reveal what i knew all along…. elena is in love with lila
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Classism
Minor: Gun violence and Toxic friendship
klor's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-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
3.0
The perspective of class, female friendships, and girlhood was so on point and portrayed as honest as they can be. It's sometimes violent, and petty, and vicious but it's also full of pent up emotion, and love, and devotion that makes it dynamic and complex. Ferrante's writing and imagery was gorgeous despite the very melodramatic plotline. This reminded me a lot of the telenovelas I've read growing up. While this book is highly regarded as one of the best novels/series of all time, I can't quite find anything too special in the plotline other than the instances I've mentioned. I got annoyed with like, 90% of the characters the more I progressed through the book, especially with our narrator. The pace picked back up again as the book came into a close. I'd love to check out Ferrante's other works but might take a bit before I come back to the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Classism, Physical abuse, Violence, and Sexual assault
jess_yasmyn's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Violence
hilwithonel's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Sexism
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Gun violence and Domestic abuse
adeliab's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Sexual content, Murder, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Classism
Minor: Gun violence and Homophobia
rachc's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Pedophilia, Stalking, Infidelity, Gun violence, and Bullying
liawindsor's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I was so ready to love this book and I'm gutted I didn't.
Things I liked: the atmosphere of Naples - Ferrante really brings the neighbourhood and their culture to life. I liked the side characters a lot more than the main ones. I would have preferred almost a more general, cross-sectioned narrative showing what their life is like, rather than this zoomed-in look on Lenu and Lila.
Things I didn't like: Unfortunately, I found the main character so irritating that I could never relax into the narration. I'd seen this book praised as a brilliant portrayal of female friendship, but those reviewers need to make some real friends because this was the most toxic, jealous, unhealthy friendship! The main character never feels anything but spite or envy towards her friend, and there was never any development in this.
I want to know how the characters turn out, but I can't sit through three more books of Lenu's perspective. A book with so much potential that unfortunately didn't do it for me.
Things I liked: the atmosphere of Naples - Ferrante really brings the neighbourhood and their culture to life. I liked the side characters a lot more than the main ones. I would have preferred almost a more general, cross-sectioned narrative showing what their life is like, rather than this zoomed-in look on Lenu and Lila.
Things I didn't like: Unfortunately, I found the main character so irritating that I could never relax into the narration. I'd seen this book praised as a brilliant portrayal of female friendship, but those reviewers need to make some real friends because this was the most toxic, jealous, unhealthy friendship! The main character never feels anything but spite or envy towards her friend, and there was never any development in this.
I want to know how the characters turn out, but I can't sit through three more books of Lenu's perspective. A book with so much potential that unfortunately didn't do it for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
Minor: Gun violence