My Brilliant Friend: Book #1 of Neapolitan Quartet

Italian Literature

My Brilliant Friend, the first book of the Neapolitan Quartet, is Elena Ferrante's captivating story of female friendship set against the backdrop of post-war Naples. The novel follows Elena Greco and Raffaella "Lila" Cerullo, two childhood friends navigating the challenges of growing up in a poor but vibrant neighborhood. Beginning in the 1950s, the story captures their triumphs, struggles, and the evolving nature of their friendship. Ferrante's portrayal of the characters' development is both intimate and epic, offering a detailed look at their personal growth against the backdrop of a changing society.

A Story That Resonates

One of my earliest memories is from when I was five and a half years old. Back then, I was a thin girl with black hair, olive skin (common in Iran), and dark eyes. In contrast, my newborn sister had blonde hair, grey eyes, and very fair skin. During a park outing with our mom, people stopped to praise my sister's beauty. One woman started complimenting her while I stared at her, waiting for a compliment for me as well. Instead, she felt the weight of my gaze and remarked to my mom, "Wow, your younger one is like a European angel, and your older one is just like other Asians!" This encounter marked my first experience with the harsh realities of the world, where I wasn't considered conventionally pretty. Such comments became a routine part of my life after my sister's arrival. The nicest thing anyone said came from my grandmother, who, to appease me, would say my sister was beautiful but that I was cute, and "cute is better than pretty." Accepting this supposed fate, I focused on excelling in something other than appearance. Upon starting school, I discovered my intelligence. This became my refuge, and I embraced the role of the "ugly but intelligent girl." I diligently studied to please my family, hoping to compensate for my perceived lack of beauty. Despite hating math and anything related to it, I chose subjects that would lead to engineering at university, solely to fulfill their wishes. I remember high school, where my close friends excelled in math, physics, and chemistry, while I barely grasped the concepts. My solace came during literature and art classes, where I thrived. A secret competition fueled me, as I needed to be the best at something. After years of hard work, I surpassed them academically, but true happiness and satisfaction remained elusive.

Reading ‘My Brilliant Friend’ brought back these memories. Ferrante's writing is so real, alive, and powerful that it resonates deeply. At times, I felt like Elena, with her insecurities and drive to excel academically to compensate for her perceived shortcomings. Other times, I identified with Lila, the rebellious spirit with a hidden inner turmoil. The author perfectly captures this feeling in a line describing Nino (one of the male characters in the book):

Nino has something that's eating him inside, like Lila, and it's a gift and a suffering; they aren't content, they never give in, they fear what is happening around them.

Ferrante's story is like a therapy, allowing me to see my childhood through the lens of these characters. It vividly portrays the vulnerabilities, the yearning for love and admiration, and the complex dynamics of teenage friendship, including the bittersweet mix of competition and deep affection.

Some Interesting P.S.

I was surprised to learn that Elena Ferrante is a pseudonym, and her real identity remains unknown. This shroud of mystery adds another layer of intrigue to her work. Even when FT Weekend Magazine invited her, a longtime fan of Marina Abramović’s work, to discuss art, writing, and more with the performance artist for her new London exhibition, Ferrante guarded her anonymity carefully. The conversation took place over a series of emails, and you can read it here.

‘My Brilliant Friend’ wasn't my first encounter with Ferrante's captivating characters. I’d read ‘The Lost Daughter’ before and experienced similar feelings of connection. I can't wait to read the remaining Neapolitan Quartet novels and explore her other works.

I haven't watched the series based on ‘My Brilliant Friend’ yet, but I plan to do so after finishing the other books.

I tried watching the movie adaptation of ‘The Lost Daughter’ but stopped after 15 minutes. My imagination had already conjured the characters and scenes, and the film didn't quite match my vision.

🐦‍⬛🍋Have you read any of Elena Ferrante's books? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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