Questions About My Brilliant Friend (Neapolitan Novels, #1)

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Answered Questions (76)

Just started this, but why are all the kids so violent? Having a hard time getting through the first hundred pages with all the hitting and rock throwing. Ugh!

Amelia C Because in poor neighborhoods where kids see violence (husbands hitting wives) they go out and act this drama out themselves. And he boys seem to feel…moreBecause in poor neighborhoods where kids see violence (husbands hitting wives) they go out and act this drama out themselves. And he boys seem to feel powerless as they stay trapped in the neighborhood and envy the Solara's. Heck, I was middle class and we used to hurl rocks at the neighbors and sometimes dead fish. Lord of The Flies is required reading for a reason. (-:(less)

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Coni He made money with black market during WWII... Quite common in Italy at the times, not only in Naples; during the war you could't freely buy food, but…moreHe made money with black market during WWII... Quite common in Italy at the times, not only in Naples; during the war you could't freely buy food, but you were allowed to acquire only a fixed and small amount of items that you had on a card. Someones had some secret stash of butter, sugar, dry meat, salt, coffee, probably stolen from the American Army. They sold those to poor people at 10 time the real value. So someone that before WWII was a mere little thief, often after the war become a rich shop or land owner and had a lot of money made on other people suffering. Every little town or neighborhood in Italy had its own black marketer. I believe that Don Achille was one of them, and that is why the people of the district hated him. And probably there was also some kind of affiliation to the camorra and he surely was a loan-shark. (less)

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I am really having trouble getting through this book. Had heard only good things about it but find it very tedious to read. I am only 40% through but thought something might have happened by now. Does it get better?

Deborah The person that told me to read this thought this was the best of the books. Definitely not reading the others..I forced myself to get through it as w…moreThe person that told me to read this thought this was the best of the books. Definitely not reading the others..I forced myself to get through it as well. I am glad others found it enjoyable..we all look for different things in a book. I would rather have had Lila write it; she seemed much more complex and less insecure. The point of view was inconsistent as well.
It might make a better movie.(less)

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What does it mean when someone"spoke in dialect", or in "thick dialect"? I understand that the book was originally written in Italian, but I'm not getting the importance of noting that the character was speaking in dialect at random times.

Martha Symbolically, speaking in dialect is done between family and people of the neighborhood; it's a way to identify who "belongs" and who is "other". It's…moreSymbolically, speaking in dialect is done between family and people of the neighborhood; it's a way to identify who "belongs" and who is "other". It's also a class thing - people of the same class share a dialect, but when talking to someone of a different class, like a teacher or banker, one switches to standard Italian. The most uneducated speakers can't speak standard Italian, which indicates they will never be able to leave their neighborhood.

Practically, the dialects are quite different, even to English-only ears. These videos let you listen to the differences between regional dialects. Northern speakers are affected by French and German, southern speakers by Greek, Arabic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwerQ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEEPy...

And for fun, watch the Detective Montalbano TV shows for a good dose of Sicilian,with captions!(less)

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