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A review by brandonpytel
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
4.0
A brilliant (ha) portrayal of friendship, captured within a coming of age story that can’t help but revive memories of childhood and adolescence among its readers. Elena looks on Lina with jealousy, rivalry, competitiveness, but overall utter dependence, as they go through their childhood and the educational feats and personal transformations that come with it.
As Lina and Elena grow apart and come back together, much as the push-and-pull, ebbs and flows of friendship do, they both grow in different ways, their bodies transforming, their social spheres changing, as they struggle to adapt to the world, as well as the societal and familial expectations of them. In many ways Elena and Lina’s worlds are as different as they are the same — Lina eventually discards education for work, and friendships for love, as Elena does the opposite.
Ferrante captures a rare and fascinating complete transformation of two characters, as they each come of age in Italy, while touching on themes of morality, beauty, growth, friendship and love squeezed between societal values of wealth, responsibility, class, and marriage.
As Lina and Elena grow apart and come back together, much as the push-and-pull, ebbs and flows of friendship do, they both grow in different ways, their bodies transforming, their social spheres changing, as they struggle to adapt to the world, as well as the societal and familial expectations of them. In many ways Elena and Lina’s worlds are as different as they are the same — Lina eventually discards education for work, and friendships for love, as Elena does the opposite.
Ferrante captures a rare and fascinating complete transformation of two characters, as they each come of age in Italy, while touching on themes of morality, beauty, growth, friendship and love squeezed between societal values of wealth, responsibility, class, and marriage.