Elena ferrantes inimitable style lends itself perfectly to a meticulous portrait of these. The series has been characterized as a bildungsroman, or comingofage story. Follow the journey of young actors margherita mazzucco and gaia girace, from first introductions to the series premiere, as they work to bring the story of two best friends to life. Narrated in first person from elenas perspective, the novel opens with a presentday prologue, in which lila stages. My brilliant friend by elena ferrante, ann goldstein. Not sure i would have picked this book as the cover made me wary but it was highly recommended for a book club read and by my daughter who has read all four books of the quartet. The story of elena and lila begins in the 1950s in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on the outskirts of naples. My brilliant friend is narrated in the firstperson by elena, and events are presented from her perspective.
Book summary a modern masterpiece from one of italys most acclaimed authors, my brilliant friend is. Hwpl readers book discussion group march 2016 monday, march 14, 2016, at 1. With my brilliant friend, the first in a series, ferrante proves herself to be one of italys greatest storytellers. This is where my brilliant friend ends, with elena watching the horizon, and lila being watched by elena. Ferrantes inimitable style lends itself perfectly to a meticulous portrait of these two. 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. 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. The eightscene second season depends on elena ferrantes smash hit book the story of a new name, which is the second of the foursection arrangement.
The prologue and chapter 1 begin sixty years from the beginning of the story, when elena and lila are. 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. The most important parts of neapolitan novels, briefly explained, to get you ready for the story of the lost child. She was born in naples and is the author of seven novels. Release date and expected plot hbo and rai have restored its widely praised dramatization arrangement, my brilliant friend for a third season.
The most important parts of neapolitan novels, briefly. Whether you are a member of a reading group, or simply reading my brilliant friend for pleasure, this clear and concise guide, written by a specialist in literature, will greatly enhance your reading experience. Through the lives of elena and lila, ferrante gives her readers the story of a neighborhood, a city, and a country undergoing momentous change. She has given her listeners a masterfully plotted pauseresister, abundant and generous in its narrative details and characterizations a stylish work of literary fiction destined to delight her many fans and win new listeners. The days of abandonment, troubling love, the lost daughter, and the quartet of neapolitan novels.
What did the instore lit group think of elena ferrantes. From one of italys most acclaimed authors comes this ravishing and generoushearted novel about a friendship that lasts a lifetime. A guide for book groups the reading room book group guides cope, kathryn published by createspace independent publishing platform 2016. If i were president of the world i would make everyone read this book. How would the book be different if told from the point of view of lila or another character. The author of this weeks book club book doesnt technically exist. The girls meet at age six in their poor naples neighborhood. In an interview for the harpers magazine, elena ferrante stated that she considers the four books to be a single novel, publish. My brilliant friend pulls back the curtain on womens lives. My brilliant friend is a large, captivating, amiably peopled bildungsroman. 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. Elena ferrantes my brilliant friend doesnt just compel people to read, but to travel. Lamica geniale is an italian and neapolitan language comingofage drama television series created by saverio costanzo for hbo, rai and timvision.
What did the instore lit group think of elena ferrantes my 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. The first season of the hbo series my brilliant friend, directed by severio costanzo premiered in 2018. My brilliant friend, the story of a new name, those who leave and those who stay, and the story of the lost. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel. She is bestknown for her internationally bestselling 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. Whether you are a member of a reading group, or simply reading my bri.
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. Sometimes we have an event coming up and i want to read the authors book and also encourage others, like. In all their beauty, their ugliness, their devotion and deceit, these girls enchant and repulse. My brilliant friend neopolitan novels 1 elena ferrante, 2012 u. The neapolitan novels are a 4part series by the italian author elena ferrante, translated by ann goldstein and published by europa editions. 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. Named as one of times 100 most influential people in 2016, italian author elena ferrante is the pseudonym of the author behind some of the most powerful and acclaimed novels of recent times. A modern masterpiece from one of italys most acclaimed authors, my brilliant friend is a rich, intense and generous hearted story about two friends, elena and lila. Discussion questions for my brilliant friend by elena ferrante. Elena ferrantes neapolitan novelsa fourbook literary phenomenon thats sold 2 million copies in the united states alone and inspired the sort of frenzy usually. How hbos my brilliant friend translates elena ferrantes beloved book to tv. My brilliant friend elena ferrante europa editions. It can be assumed that elenas voice is behind the title of the novel, referring to lila as her brilliant friend.
Ferrante has created a memorable portrait of two women, but my brilliant friend is also the story of a nation. 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 is a story of friendshiphumbling, raw, human friendshipamid the backdrop of a poor section of postwar naples, italy. There are lots of reasons why i pick books for the instore lit group. The creative minds behind the new series discuss how elena ferrantes writing inspired. Edna ritzenberg in a poor, 1950s italian neighborhood, two girls, elena and lila, exhibit remarkable intelligence. In addition to writing, i study, i translate, i teach. The series is called my brilliant friend, named for and categorically following the eponymous first novel of the book series, premiering in 2018 on.
The series has been characterized as a bildungsroman, or coming. Listen to my brilliant friend by elena ferrante at. 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. To listen to the audio book club discussion of my brilliant friend, click the arrow on the player below. The two are opposites in many ways, though both intelligent, thus the name of the first book, which has been adapted into an hbo miniseries. Our book of the month for january 2019 my brilliant friend by elena ferrante the truest evocation of a complex and lifelong friendship. 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. Elena ferrantes my brilliant friend has readers traveling. The first season of the hbo series my brilliant friend, directed by saverio costanzo, premiered in 2018. A comprehensive guide to elena ferrantes my brilliant friend, this discussion aid includes a wealth of information and resources.
The quartet, known as the neapolitan novels, follows two girls growing up in. Currently airing on hbo, miniseries my brilliant friend is based on a book series from writer elena ferrante. 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, the fiery and unforgettable lila and. This is a new version of the way we live now one we need, one told brilliantly, by a woman. The first two neapolitan novels my brilliant friend and the story of a new namemove far from contrivance, logic or respectability to ask uncomfortable questions about how we live, how we love, how we singe an existence in a deeply flawed world that expects pretty acquiescence from its women. A guide for book clubs the reading room book group guides ebook. My brilliant friend is based on a book, but is it a true. They have become the most talkedabout novels in recent history and reached fever pitch in australia last week with the novels translator ann goldstein. James wood, the new yorker compelling, visceral and immediate. Elena ferrante is the author of several remarkable, lucid, austerely honest novels.
Elena ferrante is one of italys most acclaimed authors. 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 official website for the hbo series. Elena makes it clear that she cannot know what other characters, especially lila, were feeling or thinking at certain moments.
It is so honest and right and opens up heart to so much. 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. Ischia, the setting for my brilliant friend, is also a. 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. Not sure i would have picked this book as the cover made me wary but it was highly recommended for a book club read and by my daughter who has read all. My brilliant friend, by elena ferrante book one of the neapolitan novels translated from the italian by ann goldstein discussion leader.