A review by abbytait
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

slow-paced

4.0

This book started off quite slow and didn’t really hit its stride until about halfway for me- that being said, once it did, I was hooked. It’s not the smoothest or most lyrical prose, but I definitely think that is a product of translation! 

I totally understand why this is a beloved story. The setting Ferrante has set of a post-war Naples in 1950, and of a neighbourhood rife with poverty, violence and inequality is effective and vivid. It’s a very slow paced novel, and to be honest, the first 1/3 I was having to check the index of characters every other page because there were simply too many people lol. I think I would’ve liked a smaller cast that were more fully fleshed out.  This book really leans into the cast of deeply flawed characters; i hated almost* all of the men, and all of the women’s interpersonal relationships are grounded in envy/jealous more than anything. But there’s a beautiful and messy honesty about female friendship that is really beginning to be explored here. 

A few things convinced me to pick up the second book-  Lila’s character arc; I want to see how their friendship progresses further, and also the last page left me shook!!