My Brilliant Friend (bwl 76) was the the first of Ferrante's Neapolitan quartet and now I've read the other three, were they worth it? Yes, definitely for those who are prepared to be swept into the turbulent lives and complicated relationships of the studious Elena and Lila, her rebellious childhood friend. The cast is huge, the settings shift and change, so best read one after the other without a time lapse in between. The friendship - is it really friendship? - spanning all four books is tested constantly and as the women approach old-age, past jealousies surface, storms brew, questions remain. Can anyone really know, trust or understand another person and do we ever really know, trust or understand ourselves? There are no easy answers. These four books, written by an author who shelters behind a pseudonym, have caused a storm in the literary world but, unlike some other titles that have done the same, they really do deserve the hype. Be prepared to be totally engrossed - though a word of caution for those who prefer down-to-earth, straightforward narrative, you might find them maddening!
(Jenny Baker - bwl 79 Winter 2016 ) |
