lgsampson99's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
battlecat's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
tilda_bernhardt's review against another edition
5.0
”barn vet inte innebörden av igår, av i förrgår, eller ens av imorgon, allt är såhär, nu: gatan är såhär, dörröppningen är såhär, trappan är såhär, det här är mamma, det här är pappa, såhär är dagen, såhär natten”
emily_rosek's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
sofsbookcorner's review against another edition
4.0
i feel like if anyone else wrote this book i probably would've dnf'd, but i was constantly engaged by ferrante. although the beginning was slow, it really started to pick up in the adolescence section. i found elena and lila's friendship to be so interesting, especially since there is an obvious blurred line between fascination and jealousy. elena is in a constant battle with herself to have lila's attention and admiration but to also become superior to her. there were so many layers to this book, and it's presented in a way that it's not overbearing or too much. it's really about these two girls growing up in a time where there was lots of violence and poverty and ultimately, these girls rely on each other to survive even though their friendship is so complex.
alinari's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
empty_potatoes's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
porgyreads's review against another edition
5.0
I did not expect to read 98% of this novel in one day lmfaooooo come and see real literature.
“There, amid the violent explosions, in the cold, in the smoke that burned the nostrils and the strong odor of sulfur, something violated the organic structure of her brother, exercising over him a pressure so strong that it broke down his outlines, and the matter expanded like a magma, showing her what he was truly made of.”
The concept of dissolving margins with stay with me for a very long time. And the way that EF writes about the body? The psychosomatic landscape built out to attribute a heightened sense of every feeling in both Elena and Lila???? [explosion] [gunshot] [fireworks]
The entirety of their relationship can be summarised by that single line during Lilas wedding when she refers to Elena as her brilliant friend whilst all the while, from the moment the two are introduced, in our minds Lila is the brilliant friend. And the way they see each other and fail to see each other is (of course!!!) the inviolable strength of the novel.
“There, amid the violent explosions, in the cold, in the smoke that burned the nostrils and the strong odor of sulfur, something violated the organic structure of her brother, exercising over him a pressure so strong that it broke down his outlines, and the matter expanded like a magma, showing her what he was truly made of.”
The concept of dissolving margins with stay with me for a very long time. And the way that EF writes about the body? The psychosomatic landscape built out to attribute a heightened sense of every feeling in both Elena and Lila???? [explosion] [gunshot] [fireworks]
The entirety of their relationship can be summarised by that single line during Lilas wedding when she refers to Elena as her brilliant friend whilst all the while, from the moment the two are introduced, in our minds Lila is the brilliant friend. And the way they see each other and fail to see each other is (of course!!!) the inviolable strength of the novel.
kathryn14's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
Too much hype; too little delivery.
So very slow.
Lila and Lenu's friendship and relationship with one another was the only saving grace. One day I might read the rest of the quartet ... But not today.
"Not for you: you're my brilliant friend"
5/10
So very slow.
Lila and Lenu's friendship and relationship with one another was the only saving grace. One day I might read the rest of the quartet ... But not today.
"Not for you: you're my brilliant friend"
5/10
keruichun212's review against another edition
4.0
I’m not sure… I kind of loved this book, but it wasn’t easy for me to want to read it. The language was beautiful, the story gave me Wives and Daughters vibes without being anything like Wives and Daughters. Except… maybe it is like that book and Elizabeth Gaskell’s writing. My Brilliant Friend explores a friendship between two girls in a poor and violent neighborhood of Italy, but it also explores the one girl learning to rise out of that very neighborhood. She’s improving herself, and realizing she no longer belongs in that neighborhood, with those people. The book feels like ‘day in the life’ writing, exploring what the characters are thinking and feeling and it’s just very well done. That said, I prefer plot driven books with more direct language, so this wasn’t ever a ‘must pick up’ novel.
But it ends so incredibly abruptly. I actually gasped when I realized it was finished. Good thing I was able to get access to the second one immediately. So we’ll see how that one goes.
But it ends so incredibly abruptly. I actually gasped when I realized it was finished. Good thing I was able to get access to the second one immediately. So we’ll see how that one goes.