My Brilliant Friend (Neapolitan Quartet)

I have always wondered how women can have complex relationships, and I thought they were probably wired differently. Not that men aren't complicated, some are, but women have that love/hate relationship not only with men but with their counterparts. The way the protagonist explains their growing up, their struggles in school, and finally the complications puberty brings on them are documented with such vivid imagination in one of the most important cities in Napoli it is almost like you are with them in each of their steps. *Spoilers ahead* This novel superbly portrays the friendship between Lila and Lenuccia accurately which no other book has explored in such detail, every one of us would always like to think that we will always be truthful, not be jealous of our friends. But that is never true in our life we always compare ourselves with our friends, and are jealous of them if they progress but at the same time, we can't help ourselves when they hit a roadblock that is accurately described in this novel. The class difference and what they want to make out of life closely resemble the working class families across the world, the political class and mafia exploitation of the working class portrayal is outstanding. Overall this is one of the best novels I have read, everyone rightly celebrates British women authors, but Elena Ferrante is on another planet its very hard to describe it in words, you have to read it to understand the joy it brings to your life.

First of all, reading an Italian book itself was a different experience from reading an English or American book. Naples is brought alive. Brings out a side of 5he city that we normally don’t get to see. The character of two friends and their unique friendship makes an interesting read.

This review isn't regarding the book but the paperback edition. It somehow looked like a second hand purchase. I mean after paying 738/- all you get is this old book with yellow pages.

A wonderful, well-written story of friendship between two girls whereby a well-developed cast of characters, carefully constructed scenes and clever dialogues drive the story forward in what is a most satisfying read.

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I’ve been wanting to read this book since the HBO series came out. While the narrative unfolds against the backdrop of Naples and a gritty neighborhood, it transcends mere geography. At its core, this story delves deep into the intricate and enduring bonds of female friendship—a theme often overshadowed by romantic love in literature and media. With its lush prose and vivid portrayal of girlhood, this book offers a poignant and immersive exploration of the tumultuous yet profound connections that shape young women's lives.

My brilliant friend is an ode to that friend who starts out as your girl crush. The one who dazzles you, makes you secretly want to be more like her. The one who you finally accept as an adult, without a small streak of envy. And then learn that she too always admired you.It follows two girls, both brilliant in their own ways. Elena who is inspired to be more by Lila, who is more restricted by poverty and her own fiery nature. Its a bildungsroman of sorts following these girls as they grow up in a post war changing Italy. And one day, Lila vanishes without a trace. The book is character driven, each incident changes them.Elena is the relatable lost child, admiring Lila seeking to absorb her surefootedness. So many children need this role model, this figure to be impressed by, to to emulate and she finds that figure in Lila who is impetuous, imperious and decisive. Lila has moments of feeling unmoored, a hint of mental health problems right from childhood. It's only natural considering the descriptions of the neighborhoods that we are treated to, a place of violence backwardness and ugliness.There is a lot of child abuse in this book, greatly normalised. Their is also the dark truth behind parents wishes for children to be prosperous but at the same time, not exceeded.

My Brilliant Friend (MBF) is an excruciatingly boring novel weighed down by an overwhelming sprawl of characters, events, and details that ultimately suffocate its emotional depth. It felt like reading a diary filled with the tedious humdrum of a life I couldn’t relate to on any level.The story follows two friends, Lina and Lila, as they navigate childhood and young adulthood in a poor neighborhood in Naples, surrounded by a seemingly endless cast of neighbors, classmates, and acquaintances.Ferrante’s writing is *dry, observant,* and *transactional*, meticulously cataloging every aspect of the girls’ lives. However, the excessive detail often feels inconsequential, blurring rather than sharpening the emotional stakes and leaving the narrative flat and uninspiring.MBF ultimately feels like a tedious exercise in minutiae—best suited for readers willing to wade through its mundane emotional labyrinth without expecting much payoff.Read it only if you have to. Else just stare at the ceiling, my brilliant friend.