Book club notes for my brilliant friend

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. Jul 23, 2018 my brilliant friend, the first book in a four book series and yes, the series is complete, an important factor as far as im concerned that follows two girls, quiet and bookish elena and fiery wild lila, in their friendship starting in the 1950s in a tough, poor neighborhood near naples, italy. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante book club discussion. Ferrantes inimitable style lends itself perfectly to a meticulous portrait of these two women that is also the story of a nation and a. Elena ferrante and the force of female friendships the new. My brilliant friend is the first title of the bestselling neapolitan novels, a four book series written by pseudonymous author elena ferrante and translated by american editor ann goldstein.

The prologue and chapter 1 begin sixty years from the beginning of the story, when elena and lila are. 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. The most important parts of neapolitan novels, briefly. Click here for the publishers book club notes for my brilliant friend. 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. I am haunted by elena and lila, and i will be checking in to. Book discussion guide for my brilliant friend by elena ferrante. My brilliant friend was a surprise to me in many, many ways. 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. Lamica geniale is an italian and neapolitan language comingofage drama television series created by saverio costanzo for hbo, rai and timvision. 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. Book summary a modern masterpiece from one of italys most acclaimed authors, my brilliant friend is a rich, intense, and generoushearted story about two.

The question and answer section for my brilliant friend is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. Nov 06, 2015 it can be assumed that elenas voice is behind the title of the novel, referring to lila as her brilliant friend. 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. A readers introduction to my brilliant friend this insightful and unsparing portrait of a complicated friendship between two girls has much to say not only about friendship but also about the forces that determine our lives. It can be assumed that elenas voice is behind the title of the novel, referring to lila as her brilliant friend. The neapolitan novels are a 4part series by the italian author elena ferrante, translated by ann goldstein and published by europa editions new york. 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. 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. This 62page guide for my brilliant friend by elena ferrante includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 81 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. Discussion questions for my brilliant friend by elena ferrante 1. My brilliant friend, the story of a new name, those who leave and those who stay, and the story of the lost child.

As they grow, as their paths repeatedly diverge and converge, elena and lila remain best friends whose respective destinies are reflected and. Aug 26, 2015 the most important parts of neapolitan novels, briefly explained, to get you ready for the story of the lost child. Home my brilliant friend discussion guide libguides at ramapo. It starts off the story when elena greco, the protagonist and narrator, receives a phone call from her old friend. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Discussion questions for my brilliant friend by elena. At first i thought it was slow and plodding but soon discovered it was actually quite addictive. My brilliant friend goodreads meet your next favorite book. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante reading guidebook club. 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.

Elena ferrante and the force of female friendships the. 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 childhood, 114 summary and analysis. My brilliant friend neopolitan novels 1 elena ferrante, 2012 u. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante is the first instalment of a 4novel series.

In the book my brilliant friend, elena, the teachers pet, sees the exceptional lila as not merely her competition but also her role model, her mirror, and, eventually, her subject. Growing up on these tough streets the two girls learn to rely on each other ahead of anyone or anything else. Whether you are a member of a reading group, or simply. My brilliant friend is an extraordinarily meaningful and absorbing read. Jul 15, 2016 a rich, intense, and generoushearted story about two friends, elena and lila.

So much has been said about elena ferrante and her brilliant neapolitan quartet of novels that we could fill pages. Two of ferrantes novels have been turned into films by italian filmmakers. At first i thought it was dull without much action but soon found it had unexpected twists and turns. The story begins in the 1950s, in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on the outskirts of naples. The sweet linearity of my brilliant friend the new yorker. 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. 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. They have become the most talkedabout novels in recent history and reached fever pitch in australia last week with the novels translator ann goldstein. My brilliant friend study guide contains a biography of elena.

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. My brilliant friend book whatcom county library system. The girls meet at age six in their poor naples neighborhood. Ferrantes inimitable style lends itself perfectly to a meticulous portrait of these two. Oct 30, 20 since the publication of my brilliant friend, the first of the neapolitan novels, elena ferrantes fame as one of our most compelling, insightful, and stylish contemporary authors has grown enormously.

A guide for book clubs the reading room book group guides ebook. My brilliant friend elena ferrante europa editions. Nov 04, 20 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 book in her neapolitan novels trilogy. Brilliant referring to lila as her brilliant friend. Book club notes for my brilliant friend are available here or combined notes for all four neapolitan novels here. 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. 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. However, toward the end of the girls story, it is lila who praises elena, and encourages her to be the best of all, boys and girls pg. Sep 25, 2012 ferrante has created a memorable portrait of two women, but my brilliant friend is also the story of a nation. Hbo adapting my brilliant friend for a series, vogue, aug 18. Ferrantes ferrante returns to the theme of mother daughter relationship in my.

She is the author of the days of abandonment europa, 2005, troubling love europa, 2007, and the lost daughter europa, 2009. 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. I understand that the book was originally written in italian, but im not getting the. Through the lives of elena and lila, ferrante gives her readers the story of a neighborhood, a city, and a country undergoing momentous change. My brilliant friend is a story of friendshiphumbling, raw, human friendshipamid the backdrop of a poor section of postwar naples, italy. 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. Discussion questions for my brilliant friend by elena ferrante.

Naples books are essentially about knowledgeits possibilities and its limits. 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. Nov 30, 2012 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. Those who leave and those who stay by elena ferrante.

Our reading guide for my brilliant friend by elena ferrante includes book. I am aware that it is a very popular book, it just wasnt. Oct 19, 2011 my brilliant friend, the first in elena ferrantes quartet about best friends from a naples ghetto, is a novel about power. I would recommend this book freely to anyone who enjoys history of any kind or a wellwritten novel.

The narrator elena tells us of her friendship with the girl she calls lila, a friendship that sprang out of a. My brilliant friend is an expansive epic that gleans rapturous beauty from the most desolate of circumstances, but it is the intimacy between the central duo and the. She has gained admirers among authorsjhumpa lahiri, elizabeth strout, claire messud, to name a fewand criticsjames wood, john freeman. 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 club notes for the book everyones talking about. Ferrante has indicated that this book will be the first in a trilogy. The first season of the hbo series my brilliant friend, directed by severio costanzo premiered in 2018.