Book discussion guide for my brilliant friend by elena ferrante. Instead, it should be savored under the shade of an old tree over days when you wont be disturbed. I can really think of no better praise than to simply say i loved it, though that seems inadequate commendation for such a supremely talented author. Read up on some older recommendations for bonus ideas. Discussion questions for my brilliant friend by elena. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante three guys one book.
At first i thought it was dull without much action but soon found it had unexpected twists and turns. My brilliant friend archives page 2 of 21 elena ferrante. Feb 18, 2016 you need to read this book because this will help you dive deeper into the world of elena ferrante. My brilliant friend, translated by ann goldstein, is stunning.
A readers introduction to my brilliant friend this insightful and unsparing portrait of a complicated friendship between two girls has much to say not only about friendship but also about the forces that determine our lives. Paced by the everincreasing speed of change, the novel exudes uncertainty. Ferrantes latest novel to be translated to english is my brilliant friend, a work more accessible than the days of abandonment, but no less powerful for it. In october of 2012 europa editions will release my brilliant friend by elena ferrante. The four volumes known as the neapolitan quartet my brilliant friend, the story of a new name, those who leave and those who stay, and the story of the lost child were published in america by europa between 2012 and 2015. Her gritty, ruthlessly frank novels roar off the page with a barbed fury, like an attack that is also a defense. Each is shaped, in her own way, by poverty, violence, and the. I would recommend this book freely to anyone who enjoys history of any kind or a wellwritten novel. With these books, which the new yorkers james wood described as large, captivating, amiably peopled. Hwpl readers book discussion group march 2016 monday, march 14, 2016, at 1. This 62page guide for my brilliant friend by elena ferrante includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 81 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. Marc brenner even though we see lila through lenus eyes and the pair are often physically separated, we.
My brilliant friend, by elena ferrante book one of the neapolitan novels translated from the italian by ann goldstein discussion leader. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante reading guidebook club. At nearly every point in the narrative, lena is struggling to define her selfworth and herself. This story seems to begin at its end and i wanted to. Ferrantes evocation of the workingclass district of naples where elena and lila first meet as two wiry eightyearolds is cinematic in the density of its detail. Naples books are essentially about knowledgeits possibilities and its limits. A modern masterpiece from one of italys most acclaimed authors, my brilliant friend is a rich, intense, and generoushearted story about two friends, elena and lila.
It is very likely that my notes will be used later on, in the writing of the final draft. How would the book be different if told from the point of view of lila or another. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante, 9781489054982, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. My brilliant friend, the first in elena ferrantes quartet about best friends from a naples ghetto, is a novel about power. What undertones do the shoes help to evidence in the latter half of the novel. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante reading guidebook. Neapolitan novels book one is a brilliant novel that introduces us to an extraordinary friendship between two equally dazzling girls. Set in 1930s spain, roser and victor flee to chile to get away from francos fascist regime. Soon to be an hbo series, book one in the new york times bestselling neapolitan quartet about two friends growing up in postwar italy is a rich, intense, and generoushearted family epic by italys most beloved and acclaimed writer, elena ferrante, one of the great novelists of our time. Edna ritzenberg in a poor, 1950s italian neighborhood, two girls, elena and lila, exhibit remarkable intelligence.
Sep 22, 2012 the story of a new name is a novel about frustration. Book club notes for the book everyones talking about. My brilliant friend has so many characters that it comes with a cast list, but most are so indelible it proves unnecessary. My brilliant friend was a surprise to me in many, many ways.
Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Home my brilliant friend discussion guide libguides at ramapo. The prologue begins approximately two decades later, after the disappearance of one friend. Download my brilliant friend audiobook by elena ferrante. Roxana robinson, the new york times beginning in the 1950s in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on. Hbo adapting my brilliant friend for a series, vogue, aug 18. From one of italys most acclaimed authors, comes this ravishing and generoushearted novel about a friendship that lasts a lifetime. Dec 20, 2019 january a long petal of the sea by isabel allende january 21, 2020. My brilliant friend, the first in a series of novels, follows two young women as they grow up in a rundown area of naples. My brilliant friend study guide contains a biography of elena. However, toward the end of the girls story, it is lila who praises elena, and encourages her to be the best of all, boys and girls pg. There is a piercing honesty about ferrantes prose that makes my brilliant friend a compulsively readable portrait of two young women, and also the story of a neighbourhood, a city and a country. My brilliant friend is an extraordinarily meaningful and absorbing read.
At first i thought it was slow and plodding but soon discovered it was actually quite addictive. Find out when we discuss elena ferrante and her work, with the focus on the first of the neapolitan novels, my brilliant friend, for only our second. I consider that a publishing event since my brilliant friend is the first novel in a trilogy. Some of these were published in late 2019, while some arent released yet, so theyre split into sections by publication date. Elena ferrante on my brilliant friend moving to the. The days of abandonment and my brilliant friend, the first volume in ferrantes neapolitan series, about two. Oct 31, 2014 elena ferrante is an italian novelist who was born in or near naples. The girls meet at age six in their poor naples neighborhood. Elena ferrante on my brilliant friend moving to the screen.
The prologue and chapter 1 begin sixty years from the beginning of the story, when elena and lila are. Sep 25, 2012 ferrante has created a memorable portrait of two women, but my brilliant friend is also the story of a nation. Oct 19, 2011 my brilliant friend, the first in elena ferrantes quartet about best friends from a naples ghetto, is a novel about power. Is it possible to find the exact causes of changes in their lives. The story begins in the 1950s in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on the outskirts of naples. But my brilliant friend is a bildungsroman in mono, not stereo. Italys great, mysterious storyteller by rachel donadio. Nov 04, 20 bound by the confines of gender and finances, two young women take divergent paths in elena ferrantes the story of a new name, the second book in her neapolitan novels trilogy. Throughout the novel, lila earns her reputation as the misfit, while elena comes to be known as the good girl. How much power do elena and lila actually have in determining their own lives. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors.
Her neapolitan novels include my brilliant friend, the story of a new name, those who leave and those who stay, and the foruth and final book in the series, the story of the lost child. My brilliant friend elena ferrante europa editions. Bound by the confines of gender and finances, two young women take divergent paths in elena ferrantes the story of a new name, the second book in her neapolitan novels trilogy. Frustration is the underlying motivation for each character, manifesting in different ways for the individuals, but in repetitive and selfreinforcing patterns that in turn create a chain of similar outcomes within the community. This strange turn of events prompts elena to begin writing the history of her relationship with lila, beginning with their childhood in naples, italy, in the 1950s. The neapolitan novels are a 4part series by the italian author elena ferrante, translated by ann goldstein and published by europa editions new york. Growing up on these tough streets the two girls learn to. Ferrantes inimitable style lends itself perfectly to a meticulous portrait of these two women that is also the story of a nation and a touching meditation on the nature of. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante, is available only to members. Elena ferrante is an italian novelist who was born in or near naples.
If youve been struggling to find some good questions, we have ideas for that too. It can be assumed that elenas voice is behind the title of the novel, referring to lila as her brilliant friend. Through the lives of elena and lila, ferrante gives her readers the story of a neighborhood, a city, and a country undergoing momentous change. All we know is that its the pseudonym of an already established italian writer and that shes.
My brilliant friend is a story of friendshiphumbling, raw, human friendshipamid the backdrop of a poor section of postwar naples, italy. My brilliant friend 2012, the story of a new name 20, those who leave and those who stay 2014, and the story of the lost child 2015. My brilliant friend is set in a poor neighborhood in the south of italy around, the fifties. Bunty picture story library for girls 324 and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. A guide for book clubs the reading room book group guides ebook. Ferrantes description of the extent of poverty in this neighborhood is on point. Ferrantes inimitable style lends itself perfectly to a meticulous portrait of these two women that is also the story of a nation pdf and a touching meditation on the nature. My brilliant friend posted on 6th september 2015 by waterstones the author of this weeks book club book doesnt technically exist since the publication of her first book in 1992, nobody has known the true identity of elena ferrante. Ferrantes inimitable style lends itself perfectly to a meticulous portrait of these two women that is also the story of a nation and a touching meditation on the nature of friendship. Discussion questions for my brilliant friend by elena ferrante 1. A modern masterpiece from one of italys most acclaimed authors, my brilliant friend is a rich, intense, and generoushearted story about two friends, elena and lila, who represent the story of a nation and the nature of friendship. In 2012, elena ferrantes my brilliant friend introduced readers to the unforgettable elena and lila, whose lifelong friendship provides the backbone for the neapolitan novels.
The first season of the hbo series my brilliant friend, directed by severio costanzo premiered in 2018. Elena ferrantes novel my brilliant friend the first in a trilogy is not an easy, throw in the bag book for the beach. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Theres something special about a bond you forge when you are still not sure who you are. She is the author of the days of abandonment europa, 2005, troubling love europa, 2007, and the lost daughter europa, 2009. My brilliant friend elena ferrante reading group notes 7.
Find out when we discuss elena ferrante and her work, with the focus on the first of the neapolitan novels, my brilliant friend, for only our second ever better reading book club live. Discussion questions for my brilliant friend by elena ferrante. My brilliant friend flows from the soul like an eruption from mount vesuvio. The narrator elena tells us of her friendship with the girl she calls lila, a friendship that sprang out of a. Joining better readings cheryl akle on the night weve got two of australias best loved novelists, caroline overington and michael robotham.
Marc brenner even though we see lila through lenus eyes and the pair are often physically separated, we feel their fortunes are indissolubly linked. Nov 30, 2012 in a rare interview, italian author elena ferrante talks about my brilliant friend, the first in a trilogy that takes main characters and best friends lila and elena from childhood to old age. The novel opens with elena greco learning that her longtime friend lila cerrullo also known as raffaella and lina has vanished without a trace. This study guide consists of approximately 57 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of my brilliant friend. Plot summary my brilliant friend is the first book in italian writer elena ferrante s worldacclaimed quartet of neapolitan novels, which documents the friendship between elena greco and lila cerullo. Lets start off 2020 right with a selection of the best book club books. In a rare interview, italian author elena ferrante talks about my brilliant friend, the first in a trilogy that takes main characters and best. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante translated by ann. The story of elena and lila begins in the 1950s in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on the outskirts of naples. Nov 06, 2015 discussion questions for my brilliant friend by elena ferrante 1. My brilliant friend neopolitan novels 1 elena ferrante, 2012 u. While id say the action, the pace and the characters definitely build rather than hit. What then ensues, is a onesided narration by the narrator explaining why. Their marriage is purely one of convenience, and their story is a multigenerational epic that follows the characters from spain to france, chile, argentina, and eventually the united states.
Against a violent and angry backdrop, lila and elena possibly, although we really have no idea, based on the author remain inseperable. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante book club discussion. You need to read this book because this will help you dive deeper into the world of elena ferrante. With my brilliant friend she has given her readers an abundant, generous, and masterfully plotted pageturner that is also a stylish work of literary fiction destined to delight readers for many generations to come.
Book club notes for my brilliant friend are available here or combined notes for all four neapolitan novels here. Why is it that lila is chained in a glaring way to that world of the. My brilliant friend is a journey through the secret thoughts, memories and confessions swirling in lenas mind. My brilliant friend npr coverage of my brilliant friend. Billed as a threepart bildungsroman and set in a poor, violent neapolitan neighbourhood during the 1950s, the novel explores the friendship between elena and lina.
The story of a new name is the second book in this series. Filming is set to start this summer on a tv series based on elena ferrantes bestselling novel my brilliant friend, coproduced by american cable network hbo and italian public broadcaster rai. After i read my brilliant friend i went back to the beginning and read its prologue again. Soon to be an hbo series, book one in the new york times bestselling neapolitan quartet about two friends growing up in postwar italy is a rich, intense, and generoushearted family epic by italys most beloved and.
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