Review: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
After reading mixed reviews of My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante and seeing it on the New York Times’ Best 100 Books of the 21st Century list, I finally decided to give it a try. I'll admit that my initial hesitation stemmed from its reputation—it's often grouped with what I consider overly intellectualized and pretentious books. However, my experience was quite the opposite: I found the novel remarkably accessible. I'm delighted to have been proven wrong. I found Ferrante’s writing to be straightforward yet powerful, weaving an epic tale through a large cast of characters. It masterfully balances elements of romance and drama while setting the stage for something much bigger.
As the first installment in the Neapolitan Novels quartet, this book establishes the foundation for the lifelong friendship between Elena and Lila. Set in 1950s Naples, the story follows Elena and Lila, two girls from working-class families. While Elena's parents allow her to continue her education, Lila's family forces her to work in their shoe shop despite her remarkable intelligence. Their friendship deepens through their shared love of learning, though it becomes complicated by academic competition and their diverging paths.
As they enter adolescence, Elena excels in school while Lila secretly studies to keep pace with her friend. Their relationship grows more complex as Lila's beauty attracts attention from local boys, eventually leading to her marriage to a wealthy grocer, Stefano. The novel concludes with Lila's wedding and an unexpected betrayal that makes her regret her choice.
Through Elena's narration, we see how their friendship evolves amid social constraints and personal ambitions. While Elena pursues education as her escape, Lila's brilliance remains largely untapped, creating a bittersweet dynamic between the two friends that shapes their relationship throughout the novel.
The story's brilliance lies in its simplicity - two girls growing up in Italy, navigating life together. Sounds simple enough, but what seems ordinary on the surface reveals itself to be a profound exploration of friendship, identity, and human connection. The relationship between the protagonists, Lila and Elena, is particularly fascinating, complete with its complexities of competition, admiration, and codependency.
A key turning point for me was when the girls got to middle school age and their friendship begins to deepen as they independently come of age. Their identities begin to blur and blend in a way that's both beautiful and slightly unsettling - something I found particularly relatable as someone who values clear boundaries in friendships.
At this point, having only read book one, I am honestly not completely invested in Lila and Elena's somewhat complicated friendship because the frenemy dynamic is not usually my cup of tea; I actually abhor it. However, I appreciate how honestly the book portrays these complex human emotions. The exploration of jealousy, competition, and distant adoration within the friendship is enough to keep me intrigued. Ferrante has created two wonderfully complex female characters whom we follow throughout their lives. I'm eager to see how the novels unfold and what becomes of Elena and Lila's friendship as they mature.
Another thing I find interesting is that this book is not easy to categorize, in my opinion. While it has elements of women's fiction, particularly in its romantic subplots, it's rarely marketed as such. This genre ambiguity might explain why some readers approach it with uncertainty.
I hope you’ll give it a try too.
Happy reading!