The first book of the series, entitled my brilliant friend, opens at the fourth books close. My brilliant friend is an extraordinarily meaningful and absorbing read. Ferrantes inimitable style lends itself perfectly to a meticulous portrait of these two women that is also the story of a nation. 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. The sexual violence in my brilliant friend is trueto. 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. It is so honest and right and opens up heart to so much. 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.
My brilliant friend official website for the hbo series. 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. The question and answer section for my brilliant friend is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. I also loved the second volume, the story of a new name, but maybe a little less than the first, with the friends lila and elena our narrator as children and then teenagers. So what did the book club think of my brilliant friend. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante the first of elena ferrantes quartet of neapolitan novels, my brilliant friend is up next in our discussion series. The sweet linearity of my brilliant friend the new yorker. A recap of the season finale of hbos my brilliant friend, season one.
The first season of the hbo series my brilliant friend, directed by severio costanzo premiered in 2018. The quartet is a series of cyclical events encapsulated in a larger cyclical narrative structure. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Many of the rest of the attendees liked the book, and of course several did not. Instead, it should be savored under the shade of an old tree over days when you wont be disturbed. Elena ferrante the identity of pseudonymous italian novelist elena ferrante is not publicly known. These questions can help guide your students through a discussion on this book and its big ideas. Discussion questions for my brilliant friend by elena ferrante 1.
All of these novels are set primarily in the city of naples, italy, and tell the story of a long and complicated friendship between two. The company announced that the second novel in elena ferrantes bestselling neapolitan series, the story of a new name, will be adapted for tv, coming on the heels of hbo and rais production of the sagas first book, my brilliant friend, which will wrap up on dec. My brilliant friend neopolitan novels 1 elena ferrante, 2012 u. It follows the lives of two friends, elena and lila, who grow up in a working class neighborhood near naples in the 1950s. Those who leave and those who stay by elena ferrante. My brilliant friend, by elena ferrante, translated by ann. As lilas wedding approaches, the differences between her and elena unite the two friends in silent understanding. Waking lions deals with themes of right and wrong, and the often blurry line between them. If i were president of the world i would make everyone read this book. The series includes 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.
Brooklyn public library catalog my brilliant friend. My brilliant friend is a story of friendshiphumbling, raw, human friendshipamid the backdrop of a poor section of postwar naples, italy. 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. Ferrante has created a memorable portrait of two women, but my brilliant friend is also the story of a nation.
How hbos my brilliant friend uses neapolitan dialect. I would recommend this book freely to anyone who enjoys history of any kind or a. A young man from naples phones the narrator in turin in search of his mother. Meet the translator behind hbos my brilliant friend. Ferrante returns, once more, to the theme of motherdaughter relationship in my brilliant friend. My brilliant friend, by elena ferrante book one of the neapolitan novels translated from the italian by ann goldstein discussion leader. 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. Book one, childhood, adolescence book discussion by elena ferrante. Book club notes for the book everyones talking about. My brilliant friend the story of a new name features margherita. This exquisitely written quartet creates an unsentimental portrait of female experience, rivalry and friendship never before seen in literature.
My brilliant friend is a story about many thingsleftwing politics, male violence, fancy shoes, the warping force of patriarchy on female creativitybut its centrally about class. What are the abiding characteristics of this relationship. My brilliant friend finale recap, season 1, episode 8. It can be assumed that elenas voice is behind the title of the novel, referring to lila as her brilliant friend. Elena ferrantes novel my brilliant friend the first in a trilogy is not an easy, throw in the bag book for the beach. Book summary 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. They have become the most talkedabout novels in recent history and reached fever pitch in australia last week with the novels translator ann goldstein. Throughout the novel, lila earns her reputation as the misfit, while elena comes to. Its the first of a trilogy, and i have the sequel, the story of a new name on the tbr as well. Their friendship is complex, as are the interactions of all. My brilliant friend summary guide book club discussion questions. Discussion questions for my brilliant friend by elena.
This one is as wonderful as the first, my brilliant friend. Home my brilliant friend discussion guide libguides at. This is a new version of the way we live now one we need, one told brilliantly, by a woman. All of these novels are set primarily in the city of naples, italy, and tell the story. Three of the expected four novels have been published in english. A modern masterpiece from one of italys most acclaimed authors, my brilliant. 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. Narrated in first person from elenas perspective, the novel opens with a presentday prologue, in which lila stages. I love elena ferrantes neapolitan novels, of which those who leave and those who stay is the third volume. My brilliant friend book discussion questions my brilliant friend study guide contains a biography of elena naples books are essentially about knowledgeits possibilities and its limits.
Ferrantes inimitable style lends itself perfectly to a meticulous portrait of these two. They had already read the second and third books in the series. 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. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante reading guidebook. Has hbos my brilliant friend finale left you wanting. Yes, we had a few attendees who fell in love with the book in textbookstyle form. Book discussion guide for my brilliant friend by elena ferrante. When the most important friend in her life seems to have disappeared without a trace, elena greco, a nowelderly woman immersed in a house full of books, turns on her computer and starts writing the story of their friendship.
A guide for book clubs the reading room book group guides ebook. Meet ann goldstein, the brilliant translator behind the hbo series my brilliant friend former area resident ann goldstein is a star in the literary. My brilliant friend season 2 episode discussion hub no book spoilers spoiler. My brilliant friend is the first novel in a four part series known as the neapolitan quartet. Ferrantes my brilliant friend is an extraordinary expose on the lives of two teenage girls in a small, lowincome italian community. This thread has been locked by the moderators of rmybrilliantfriendhbo. My brilliant friend s02e01, episode 7 episode discussion no book spoilers spoiler.
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