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nonsenseofsight 's review for:
My Brilliant Friend
by Elena Ferrante
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.
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.