From the Bookshelf of Constant Reader…

My Brilliant Friend (My Brilliant Friend, #1)

Elena Ferrante,

Ann Goldstein (Translator)

Start date: August 15, 2015

Finish date: September 1, 2015

Discussion: Reading List

Discussion leader: Sherry

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Reading List

* The Schedule for July through Dec. 2025
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What Members Thought

Jan 02, 2016 Jane rated it really liked it

Shelves: recentfiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The book really grew on me. After reading Groff's Fates and Furies with its gorgeous language and continuous unfolding of character and plot, the writing felt almost flat to me. After a while I was caught up in the unfolding of Lenu and Lila's friendship, and the choices each girl made, often in response to each other. The ending was perfect. I'm reading for a book club and can't wait to talk about it.

It's about the economic reality and inequity of Naples in the fifties... and the roles of men ...more

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Oct 12, 2016 Faezeh rated it really liked it

I really love the way Ferrante writes and she dives into the story and takes you in. But as beautiful and absorbing as the story is, Lila's character isnt very believable to me. She isnt real to me like the way everyone else is. It didnt bother me too much though for this book. ...more

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Feb 15, 2016 Dora rated it did not like it

Shelves: bookgroup, didntfinish-noneedtogoback

I tried. Really I did. We picked it for book group because it was so popular and highly rated. None of us finished (I'm pretty sure I had the least patience; only made it about 10% in).

I didn't find anything to latch onto. Couldn't figure out what the storyline was trying to be and kept feeling like it had to be a bad translation.

Others in the group thought the friendship was codependent/abusive and objected to the portrayal of women as having a limited outlook and being random victims of viole ...more

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Dec 06, 2015 Joyce rated it really liked it

Enjoyed this thoroughly and the ending had me heading out to get the next book. Fascinating story of a friendship including the comparisons, competition and jealousy. Delightful.

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