16.5k reviews for:

L'amica geniale

Elena Ferrante

4.05 AVERAGE

emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
medium-paced
hopeful reflective tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Never read anything quite like it, that offer such a window into intimacy of friendship

alec98alec's review

5.0
emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
reflective tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I picked this up on the recommendation of my friend Ryan. 

These days, I primarily read big ass fantasy books. There was, however, a time where I was pretty evenly split between BAFB's and what most people would call "real literature."  This read, reminded me why it is important to have a bit of balance in your reading life. 

My Brilliant Friend is a complicated book to review. It's the first part in a series of books. It covers, in intense detail, the girlhood of the narrator in post-war Italy. On paper, this is not something that I'm overly interested in (being a selfish butthole of a man, most days). 

BUT

It is written with such a breathless breezy-ness that I found it nearly impossible to put down. 

The pace of the writing here (note: not the pace of the plot) is an absolute masterclass in how to keep a reader's attention, how to introduce tension despite the rather mundane subject matter, and how to revel in youth and innocence.  It's a staggeringly fun read.

 
emotional fast-paced
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
reflective slow-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
emotional reflective tense slow-paced