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Anthony's Reviews > My Brilliant Friend
My Brilliant Friend (The Neapolitan Novels, #1)
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I went into the reading of this novel relatively blind; I knew it had been highly praised, and I knew it took place in Italy, and that was about it. I confess to being somewhat bewildered by the depths of its praise. It’s a fine enough portrait of a mercurial young woman as she’s making her way through he childhood and adolescence in a working class neighborhood of Naples. But for me, the narrative voice was a bit too distancing and obtuse, and the stream of names of neighborhood kids often failed to distinguish them from one another in a vivid manner. Eventually, some characters emerged more clearly than others, but the insularity of Ferrante’s approach left me a little cold.
I imagine that its HBO adaptation might help in that regard; perhaps I’ll check it out sometime.
At any rate, I’m unsure whether or not I’ll continue with the series that this novel began. My first read of 2021 was decidedly underwhelming.
I imagine that its HBO adaptation might help in that regard; perhaps I’ll check it out sometime.
At any rate, I’m unsure whether or not I’ll continue with the series that this novel began. My first read of 2021 was decidedly underwhelming.
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Reading Progress
December 12, 2020
– Shelved
December 12, 2020
– Shelved as:
to-read
December 12, 2020
– Shelved as:
modern-world-lit
December 12, 2020
– Shelved as:
2021-popsugar-challenge
January 8, 2021
–
Started Reading
January 14, 2021
–
70.0%
"What with some recent events dominating the news ::coughcoughinsurrectionandimpeachmentcoughcough:: I’ve been ma,in slow progress in my reading, but I’m more than two-thirds through this book now. It’s definitely interesting in many ways, but it’s also oddly distancing. Still, I should finish today or tomorrow."
January 15, 2021
–
Finished Reading
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This is one of those books I picked up repeatedly, after yet another person told me to give it another chance, and I’ve still failed to make it past the first few chapters. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s just not my bag. It’s like gin, drink of choice for many, but I can’t manage to keep it down (mouth barfs, for sure).
I expect a similar experience, which is why I haven't read yet. Also, to be honest, because girlhood friendships were so important in my own life and I rarely see them relatably done in fiction. I hate the trope that girls' friendships must devolve into rivalry, and think this may be the case here...?
Perhaps the adaptation will indeed provide an answer for the popularity. Interested to check it out myself.
Wishing you plenty more fulfilling reads to come for 2021 🤞