My brilliant friend is a story of friendshiphumbling, raw, human friendshipamid the backdrop of a poor section of postwar naples, italy. Book club notes for my brilliant friend are available here or combined notes. What did the instore lit group think of elena ferrantes. What did the instore lit group think of elena ferrantes my brilliant friend. Ferrante returns, once more, to the theme of motherdaughter relationship in my brilliant friend. Click here for the publishers book club notes for my brilliant friend so much has been said about elena ferrante and her brilliant neapolitan quartet of novels that we could fill pages. Why is it that lila is chained in a glaring way to that world of the. Sep 25, 2012 growing up on these tough streets the two girls learn to rely on each other ahead of anyone or anything else, as their friendship, beautifully and meticulously rendered, becomes a not always perfect shelter from hardship. The first season of the hbo series my brilliant friend, directed by severio costanzo premiered in 2018. 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.
Book discussion guide for my brilliant friend by elena ferrante. Book club notes for the book everyones talking about. 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. There are lots of reasons why i pick books for the instore lit group. The novel opens with elena greco learning that her longtime friend lila cerrullo also known as raffaella and lina has vanished without a trace. Book club notes for my brilliant friend are available here or combined notes for all four neapolitan novels here. Discussion questions for my brilliant friend by elena ferrante 1. The story of a new name by elena ferrante 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. A tale that attempts to unveil the mystery of lila, elenas brilliant friend. My brilliant friend is a modern masterpiece, the work of one of italys great storytellers. My brilliant friend, the first in elena ferrantes quartet about best friends from a naples ghetto, is a novel about power. Throughout the novel, lila earns her reputation as the misfit, while elena comes to. The story begins in the 1950s, in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on the outskirts of naples.
This third volume of the neopolitan trilogy continues to chronicle the turbulent lives of longtime friends lila and elena, as begun in the enigmatic ferrantes my brilliant friend 2012 and the story of a new name 20. She tells the tale of their friendship, which started at school in the 1950s. Elena ferrante and the force of female friendships the new. Praise for the neapolitan novels her novels are intensely, violently personal, and because of this they seem to dangle bristling key chains. Two of ferrantes novels have been turned into films by italian. The girls meet at age six in their poor naples neighborhood. So much has been said about elena ferrante and her brilliant neapolitan quartet of novels that we could fill pages. Growing up on these tough streets the two girls learn to rely on each other ahead of anyone or anything else. 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. Lila has been missing for two weeks, and even though his mother has a history of erratic behavior, rino is concerned. Elena ferrante and the force of female friendships the. Discussion questions for my brilliant friend by elena.
Ferrante has created a memorable portrait of two women, but my brilliant friend is also the story of a nation. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante reading guidebook club. Two of ferrantes novels have been turned into films by italian filmmakers. Ferrantes inimitable style lends itself perfectly to a meticulous portrait of these two. My brilliant friend is a large, captivating, amiably peopled bildungsroman. My brilliant friend study guide contains a biography of elena ferrante, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. 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. 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. They have become the most talkedabout novels in recent history and reached fever pitch in australia last week with the novels translator ann goldstein.
The story begins in the 1950s, in a poor but vibrant neighborhood. Book summary a modern masterpiece from one of italys most acclaimed authors, my brilliant friend is a rich, intense, and generoushearted story about two. My brilliant friend, the story of a new name, those who leave and those who stay, and the story. Whether you are a member of a reading group, or simply. Reading ferrante reminded me of that childlike excitement when you cant look up from the page, when your eyes seem to be popping from your head, when you think. The neapolitan novels by the italian writer elena ferrante are a series of so far three books about the lifelong friendship between two women, and. My brilliant friend book club kit saint paul public. 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 study guide contains a biography of elena. 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, which was nominated for the strega prize, an italian literary award. Paperback published in 2012, paperback published in 2012, kindle edition published in 2012, paperback published. As they grow, as their paths repeatedly diverge and converge, elena and lila. My brilliant friend book club kit arapahoe libraries.
What did the instore lit group think of elena ferrantes my. Narrated in first person from elenas perspective, the novel opens. Naples books are essentially about knowledgeits possibilities and its limits. I understand that the book was originally written in italian, but im not getting the. A guide for book clubs the reading room book group guides ebook.
How much power do elena and lila actually have in determining their own lives. 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. Ferrantes inimitable style lends itself perfectly to a meticulous portrait of these two women that is also the story of a nation and a. I would recommend this book freely to anyone who enjoys history of any kind or a wellwritten novel. She is also the author of a childrens picture book illustrated by mara cerri, the beach at night.
My brilliant friend elena ferrante reading group notes 7. If i were president of the world i would make everyone read this book. Ferrantes ferrante returns to the theme of mother daughter relationship in my. My brilliant friend prologue summary and analysis gradesaver. She is the author of the days of abandonment europa, 2005, troubling love europa, 2007, and the lost daughter europa, 2009.
My brilliant friend questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on my brilliant friend. Against a violent and angry backdrop, lila and elena possibly, although we really have no idea, based on the author. Click here for the publishers book club notes for my brilliant friend. My brilliant friend summary and analysis of prologue. As they grow, as their paths repeatedly diverge and converge, elena and lila remain best friends whose respective destinies are reflected and. Throughout the novel, lila earns her reputation as the misfit, while elena comes to be known as the good girl. 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. Elena ferrante is the author of several remarkable, lucid, austerely honest novels. My brilliant friend elena ferrante europa editions. To listen to the audio book club discussion of my brilliant friend, click the arrow on the player below. Set in a dangerous but fascinating naples, it is just the start of a story spanning sixty years of life.
How would the book be different if told from the point of view of lila or another. What undertones do the shoes help to evidence in the latter half of the novel. Book summary a modern masterpiece from one of italys most acclaimed authors, my brilliant friend is. Discussion questions for my brilliant friend by elena ferrante. After abandoning a few dud novels, i was excited to pick up elena ferrantes book because i. Brilliant referring to lila as her brilliant friend. Oct 19, 2011 my brilliant friend, the first in elena ferrantes quartet about best friends from a naples ghetto, is a novel about power. 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. James wood, the new yorker compelling, visceral and immediate.
From one of italys most acclaimed authors, my brilliant friend is a rich, intense, and generoushearted story about two friends, elena and lila, set in a vibrant and colorful modernday naples. Sometimes we have an event coming up and i want to read the authors book and also encourage others, like. I am aware that it is a very popular book, it just wasnt. My brilliant friend book whatcom county library system. The two girls learn to rely on each other ahead of anyone or anything else, sometimes to their own detriment, as each discovers more about who she is and suffers or delights in the throes of. 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. Growing up on these tough streets the two girls learn to rely on each.
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. A rich, intense, and generoushearted story about two friends, elena and lila. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante reading guidebook. 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. Sometimes we have an event coming up and i want to read the authors book and also encourage others, like our august 31st selection of richard fords canada. Named after the first of four novels in the neapolitan novels series by elena ferrante, it is set to adapt the entire literary work over four seasons of eight episodes. My brilliant friend study guide contains a biography of elena ferrante, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full naples books are essentially about knowledge. My brilliant friend, the story of a new name, those who leave and those who stay, and the story of the lost child. My brilliant friend is a ravishing, wonderfully written novel about a friendship that lasts a lifetime the story of elena and lila begins in a poor but vibrant neighbourhood on the outskirts of naples. Home my brilliant friend discussion guide libguides at ramapo. Aug 08, 2015 what did the instore lit group think of elena ferrantes my brilliant friend. In addition to writing, i study, i translate, i teach.
My brilliant friend is an extraordinarily meaningful and absorbing read. My brilliant friend is the first book in italian writer elena ferrantes worldacclaimed quartet of neapolitan novels, which documents the friendship between elena greco and lila cerullo. I would recommend this book freely to anyone who enjoys history of any kind or a. A readers introduction to the neapoliotan novels these four compelling novels or this single novel broken into four parts have such a broad scope that. The neapolitan novels are a 4part series by the italian author elena ferrante, translated by ann goldstein and published by europa editions new york. The prologue and chapter 1 begin sixty years from the beginning of the story, when elena and lila are. Is it possible to find the exact causes of changes in their lives. My brilliant friend, the first in a series of novels, follows two young women as they grow up in a rundown area of naples. The novel opens with elena greco receiving a phone call from rino, the adult son of her lifelong friend lila cerrullo also known as raffaella and lina. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante book club discussion.
Her translations for europa editions include novels by amara lakhous, alessandro piperno, and elena ferrantes bestselling my brilliant friend. Nov 06, 2015 discussion questions for my brilliant friend by elena ferrante 1. May 24, 2016 click here for the publishers book club notes for my brilliant friend so much has been said about elena ferrante and her brilliant neapolitan quartet of novels that we could fill pages. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante from one of italys most acclaimed authors, comes this ravishing and generoushearted novel about a friendship that lasts a lifetime. Around the world in books faraway places im reading a mostly contemporary book from every country in the world elena ferrantes my brilliant friend is my book for italy. The author of this weeks book club book doesnt technically exist. Beginning in the 1950s in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on the outskirts of naples, elena ferrantes fourvolume story spans almost sixty years, as its main characters. Ferrante has indicated that this book will be the first in a trilogy.
Sep 04, 2014 the neapolitan novels by the italian writer elena ferrante are a series of so far three books about the lifelong friendship between two women, and when i read them i find that i never want to stop. My brilliant friend neopolitan novels 1 elena ferrante, 2012 u. 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. What are the abiding characteristics of this relationship. Growing up on these tough streets the two girls learn to rely on each other ahead of anyone or anything else, as their friendship, beautifully and meticulously rendered, becomes a not always perfect shelter from hardship. It is so honest and right and opens up heart to so much. I am haunted by elena and lila, and i will be checking in to. Who do you feel suffers the most mother or daughter. The modern masterpiece from one of italys most acclaimed authors is a rich, intense, and generoushearted story about two friends, elena and lila.
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