As they grow, as their paths repeatedly diverge and converge, elena and lila remain best friends whose respective destinies are reflected and. James wood, the new yorker compelling, visceral and immediate. So much has been said about elena ferrante and her brilliant neapolitan quartet of novels that we could fill pages. Click here for the publishers book club notes for my brilliant friend. Book club notes for the book everyones talking about.
Is it possible to find the exact causes of changes in their lives. My brilliant friend elena ferrante europa editions. Discussion questions for my brilliant friend by elena ferrante 1. I understand that the book was originally written in italian, but im not getting the.
The novel opens with elena greco learning that her longtime friend lila cerrullo also known as raffaella and lina has vanished without a trace. They have become the most talkedabout novels in recent history and reached fever pitch in australia last week with the novels translator ann goldstein. 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. I would recommend this book freely to anyone who enjoys history of any kind or a wellwritten novel. She tells the tale of their friendship, which started at school in the 1950s. 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. Aug 08, 2015 what did the instore lit group think of elena ferrantes 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. A tale that attempts to unveil the mystery of lila, elenas brilliant friend. My brilliant friend study guide contains a biography of elena ferrante, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Book summary a modern masterpiece from one of italys most acclaimed authors, my brilliant friend is. 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. Lamica geniale is an italian and neapolitan language comingofage drama television series created by saverio costanzo for hbo, rai and timvision. A rich, intense, and generoushearted story about two friends, elena and lila. 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. My brilliant friend neopolitan novels 1 elena ferrante, 2012 u.
Growing up on these tough streets the two girls learn to rely on each. 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. Book club notes for my brilliant friend are available here or combined notes for all four neapolitan novels here. Whether you are a member of a reading group, or simply.
She is the author of the days of abandonment europa, 2005, troubling love europa, 2007, and the lost daughter europa, 2009. Book discussion guide for my brilliant friend by elena ferrante. 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. My brilliant friend prologue summary and analysis gradesaver. Paperback published in 2012, paperback published in 2012, kindle edition published in 2012, paperback published. Neapolitan novels, book one by ferrante, elena and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. I am haunted by elena and lila, and i will be checking in to. 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. 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. Against a violent and angry backdrop, lila and elena possibly, although we really have no idea, based on the author. 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. My brilliant friend, the story of a new name, those who leave and those who stay, and the story of the lost child. Hbo adapting my brilliant friend for a series, vogue, aug 18. Nov 06, 2015 discussion questions for my brilliant friend by elena ferrante 1.
The prologue and chapter 1 begin sixty years from the beginning of the story, when elena and lila are. My brilliant friend study guide contains a biography of elena. The girls meet at age six in their poor naples neighborhood. My brilliant friend summary and analysis of prologue. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante reading guidebook club.
Two of ferrantes novels have been turned into films by italian. Ferrante has created a memorable portrait of two women, but my brilliant friend is also the story of a nation. 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. Discussion questions for my brilliant friend by elena ferrante. Set in a dangerous but fascinating naples, it is just the start of a story spanning sixty years of life. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante book club discussion. 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. 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 by elena ferrante reading guidebook. 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. My brilliant friend elena ferrante reading group notes 7. My brilliant friend, the first in a series of novels, follows two young women as they grow up in a rundown area of naples. In addition to writing, i study, i translate, i teach.
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. The story begins in the 1950s, in a poor but vibrant neighborhood. 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. I am aware that it is a very popular book, it just wasnt. Narrated in first person from elenas perspective, the novel opens. My brilliant friend is a story of friendshiphumbling, raw, human friendshipamid the backdrop of a poor section of postwar naples, italy. Elena ferrante and the force of female friendships the new.
Oct 19, 2011 my brilliant friend, the first in elena ferrantes quartet about best friends from a naples ghetto, is a novel about power. What did the instore lit group think of elena ferrantes my. 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 book club kit arapahoe libraries. The author of this weeks book club book doesnt technically exist. It can be assumed that elenas voice is behind the title of the novel, referring to lila as her brilliant friend. Who do you feel suffers the most mother or daughter. Elena ferrante and the force of female friendships the. Ferrantes inimitable style lends itself perfectly to this penetrating portrait of two marvelous women. 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. 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. Ferrante has indicated that this book will be the first in a trilogy. As they grow, as their paths repeatedly diverge and converge, elena and lila. Ferrantes ferrante returns to the theme of mother daughter relationship in my.
My brilliant friend is a large, captivating, amiably peopled bildungsroman. How much power do elena and lila actually have in determining their own lives. Growing up on these tough streets the two girls learn to rely on each other ahead of anyone or anything else. My brilliant friend book whatcom county library system. If i were president of the world i would make everyone read this book. Lila has been missing for two weeks, and even though his mother has a history of erratic behavior, rino is concerned. Two of ferrantes novels have been turned into films by italian filmmakers. A guide for book clubs the reading room book group guides ebook. I would recommend this book freely to anyone who enjoys history of any kind or a. The neapolitan novels are a 4part series by the italian author elena ferrante, translated by ann goldstein and published by europa editions new york. How would the book be different if told from the point of view of lila or another. It is so honest and right and opens up heart to so much. Discussion questions for my brilliant friend by elena.
My brilliant friend book club kit saint paul public. Why is it that lila is chained in a glaring way to that world of the. Brilliant referring to lila as her brilliant friend. 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. 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. My brilliant friend is a modern masterpiece, the work of one of italys great storytellers. Praise for the neapolitan novels her novels are intensely, violently personal, and because of this they seem to dangle bristling key chains. What undertones do the shoes help to evidence in the latter half of the novel. 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.
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. 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. Elena ferrante is the author of several remarkable, lucid, austerely honest novels. 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. My brilliant friend, the first in elena ferrantes quartet about best friends from a naples ghetto, is a novel about power. 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.
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. 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. 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. The story begins in the 1950s, in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on the outskirts of naples. Sometimes we have an event coming up and i want to read the authors book and also encourage others, like. To listen to the audio book club discussion of my brilliant friend, click the arrow on the player below. There are lots of reasons why i pick books for the instore lit group. After abandoning a few dud novels, i was excited to pick up elena ferrantes book because i. 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. 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. My brilliant friend is an extraordinarily meaningful and absorbing read. Throughout the novel, lila earns her reputation as the misfit, while elena comes to. What did the instore lit group think of elena ferrantes. Naples books are essentially about knowledgeits possibilities and its limits.
Throughout the novel, lila earns her reputation as the misfit, while elena comes to be known as the good girl. Her translations for europa editions include novels by amara lakhous, alessandro piperno, and elena ferrantes bestselling my brilliant friend. 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. Book club notes for my brilliant friend are available here or combined notes. 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. Home my brilliant friend discussion guide libguides at ramapo.
She is also the author of a childrens picture book illustrated by mara cerri, the beach at night. 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. Ferrante returns, once more, to the theme of motherdaughter relationship in my brilliant friend. What are the abiding characteristics of this relationship. My brilliant friend, the story of a new name, those who leave and those who stay, and the story. The first season of the hbo series my brilliant friend, directed by severio costanzo premiered in 2018. Ferrantes inimitable style lends itself perfectly to a meticulous portrait of these two. 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. Ferrantes inimitable style lends itself perfectly to a meticulous portrait of these two women that is also the story of a nation and a. 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. 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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