caseyfrost's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-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
4.25
Slow start, builds characters, last 75 pages picked up, not sure id recommend the full >300 pg book just to read the last 75pgs but I did enjoy the book.
The key of families at the beginning of the book was essential, looots of players.
The key of families at the beginning of the book was essential, looots of players.
victoriayates's review against another edition
5.0
I am so in awe of how great this book is that I am sure I cannot do it justice. I feel hugely intimidated by the prospect of doing the novel a disservice whilst fighting the compulsion to write about it and talk about it, dissect it, just rave about it. So I’m writing this review... I won’t try to recount the story, it’s too huge and sweeping and grand, complex. Instead, I’ll just say it is a book of contrasting and complimenting themes; it’s about life in Naples but also all life, the nature of being alive. It’s also to a great extent an account of gender, a feminist coming-of-age story which juxtaposes the female-centric narrative of friendship and girls’ education, menstruation and sexuality, with Italian machismo and pride, brutal familial and street violence alongside men’s sexual harassment and assault of young girls. And yet there are moments in this book that shocked me as much in their tenderness as did the rawness of the harm, the audacity of the powerful and the helplessness of the poor. As a working class woman with a passion for learning and education, I felt that Ferrante writes at times as if recounting private discussions we had once had. I saw myself in both Elena and Lila, my own stubborn ambition and determination often countered by a need for affirmations from others, their encouragement needed to assuage my self-doubt. She captures the contrary and fickle nature of romantic love and friendship, platonic affection and sexual desire, the male gaze and female sensuality. I loved this book so much that whilst I’m desperate to read the next I’m going to wait. I need to live a bit longer with the memory of ‘My Brilliant Friend’, linger in the pleasure of her brilliance, bask in the warmth of the Neapolitan heat and drama.
magdsmal's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
2.5
npolston's review against another edition
2.0
gorgeous writing, vibey and atmospheric, but the book as a whole moved too slowly for me and felt a little redundant. I wanted to LOVE it but it fell flat from what I was hoping for.
auroratoledo's review against another edition
4.0
mm me ha gustado mucho el coming of age de estas dos amigas tan distintas y similares a la vez... es una novela plagada de violencia sutil —y no tan sutil— que es imposible dejar de leer
fabulousdave's review against another edition
5.0
What I was most concerned about with dipping my toe into Ferrante's work has come true: now that I've loved My Brilliant Friend, I'm going to have to read everything she's ever written! An incredible novel on its own but I look forward to seeing where the series goes.
langerboo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-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
4.0
jeeebes's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
hansel's review against another edition
5.0
Everything I love! aside from Elena’s always perfectly captivating tone, they way she intersects class, girlhood, womanhood, the transition from one to another, envy, relationship dynamics, politics, education and so many more components to their influence on young people leaves me unable to think about much aside from this book. Oh my gosh I love and I can’t wait for the rest of the series! EEEee