Brilliantly Disconcerting

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


There was something very disconcerting about 'My Brilliant Friend', something possibly connected to the fact that I kept thinking about how the author, Elena Ferrante, has famously chosen to keep her identity a secret. (There is even a rumour that 'she' is not a she at all, but a 'he'; but that is mere literary gossip...) With regard to the identity thing, the cynic in me wants to say, Wow, what a great marketing ploy! While the admirer in me prefers to say that such anonymity allows a piece of work to stand or fall entirely on its own merits.

On that basis I would offer therefore, that the disconcerting aspect of the book stems from one never really finding out who the 'brilliant friend' is. The story revolves around two girls, Elena and Lila, growing into adulthood in the violent, poverty-stricken world of post-war Naples where the close-knit rules of social engagement are as entrenched as they are suffocating. The girls feed off each other's insecurities and hopes, veering between times of closest friendship and periods of long silence and alienation. The chapters gallop through the years, taking the two girls from doll-playing through junior and senior school and, for Lila, on to marriage. Both girls are extremely clever and highly competitive, but make very different choices. Getting sucked into their respective stories, it is impossible for one's sympathies not to shift, cleverly twisting the notion of who the 'brilliant friend' might be in the process.

'My Brilliant Friend' is the opener of a highly acclaimed trilogy known as 'The Neapolitan Novels' and I have already bought the next in the series. That said, I almost didn't, and reserve the right to stop before the third. The reasons for my hesitation are twofold:
Firstly, the style of the narrative is dense and relentless, with very little light and shade. Ferrante is obviously aiming for a distinct effect with this approach - life IS dense and relentless! - but I found it hard to stomach, page after page. I kept longing for more light and shade.
Secondly, the canvas of characters filling out the girls' lives was so vast that I kept getting muddled as to who was who. Ferrante, clearly anticipating the problem, had thoughtfully put a list of all the various family members at the beginning of the book for easy reference, like a cast-list at the start of a play. The need to use it however, never quite left me! Which might suggest something uncharitable about my powers of concentration, but which might also indicate an underlying weakness in the story-telling.

In other words 'My Brilliant Friend' is not a perfect book. But then few books are, and it certainly made for a highly intriguing as well as entertaining read. I am keeping an open mind for the next one, but going to take a break first. I have been told it's even better. Watch this space to find out if I agree.



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