My Brilliant Friend

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2011

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My Brilliant Friend

Genre: Fiction; literary
Originally Published: 2011
Reading Level/Interest: College/adult
Structure/Length: 63 chapters; approximately 331 pages; approximately 12 hours, 38 minutes on audio
Protagonist/Central Conflict: The central conflict regards the lifelong friendship between Elena Greco and Lila Cerullo, two girls growing up in a poor neighborhood in Naples, Italy. As they navigate the challenges and opportunities of their community and their own personal ambitions, their friendship is tested and evolves over the years. The novel explores friendship, identity, education, and the impact of socio-economic factors on individuals and their choices.
Potential Sensitivity Issues: Mature themes including violence and relationships; profanity; assault, abuse, and physical punishment; depiction of socioeconomic and societal struggles; sexual content; sexual violence against women; scene depicting molestation

Elena Ferrante, Author

Bio: A pseudonymous Italian author; true identity not publicly known; celebrated for her Neapolitan Novels series, of which My Brilliant Friend is the first installment; has garnered international acclaim and a devoted following; known for her exploration of complex female characters and intimate portrayals of friendship
Other Works: Troubling Love (1992); The Days of Abandonment (2002); The Lost Daughter (2006); The Beach at Night (2007); The Story of a New Name (2012); Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay (2013); The Story of the Lost Child (2014); The Lying Life of Adults (2019)
Awards: Dublin Literary Award Longlist (2014)