Bimtav design I’m so glad the tv series exists now to lock me into how I pictured it all come to life and how it transports me, too. I’m glad you enjoyed the series as well!
Bookish glad to hear it Brian! Since I’ve just discovered you’ve never read Emma, consider yourself lucky! It’s Austen’s most drab-so reading Ferrante is a recommended substitute in my eyes haha
Great video, Alex! I’ve owned My Brilliant Friend in Italian for a few years. I thought about buying the other two Neapolitan novels, but I guess I should read the first one before I can decide if the quartet is for me!
Bookish Islander if you’re like me, you’d have wished you binge bought them at one time to just fly through them! I can’t imagine people having had to wait years at a time for each new release...the patience!
Thanks for this overview, Alex! I read the first book in Ferrante's tetralogy ages ago and loved it--particularly the strange "frenemy" dynamic emerging between Elena and Lila. Your explanation that this is mainly stage-setting for the latter novels makes me even more curious to complete the cycle.
Weird Book Book Club you have so much in store waiting for you! It really kicks into gear in book 2 as Elena finally gets some space to get to know herself better. I hope that when you get around to the rest of the series that you love it!
Such thoughtful commentary in such a short video! Bravo. I am really looking forward to reading these books--perhaps this summer. Any chance you've seen the new book The Ferrante Letters: An Experiment in Collective Criticism?
Hannah's Books I saw it in the bookstore the other week! I flipped through it and think it’ll make a nice birthday gift to myself in a few weeks time per when family starts asking for ideas 🎁 📚 thanks for the kind words Hannah!
I’ve watched the 1st 2 season of this! SPOILER ALERT it finished with her 1st book being published & Lila working in the abattoir, she’s living with Enzo, is this not the end?
great video, i'm glad i found your channel!! the covers are actually the same as the italian editions (i read the novels in italian myself), they're kinda ugly i have to agree with you
also if you really like elena ferrante i recommend you read something from elsa morante, ferrante draws a lot from her (see how her pseudonym sounds similar to morante's name)
Thank you! And ah, I had no idea they were the same! Funny you mention it because I read Arturo's Island earlier this year and it still may be my favorite book of the year so far haha : )
Ferrante is a powerful narrator, but not a writer. Her language is a cascade of predictable adjectives and predictable combinations: irony is "good-natured", days "fly by", issues "unfold", conversations are "brilliant". It's all pre-chewed: "I was burning with desire, I couldn't wait to see him again". And then: "We were mad for love, time flew by". Nothing is unsettling. Everything proceeds in an epic way, but without style. And literature, you know, is just a matter of style.
I have to disagree. True, her style is toned down in the Neapolitan novels, but this is because writing has to match the pace and substance of the story. However, if you read Troubling Love, her first novel, the style of that particular story is both flashy and tender, like an undercurrent of melancholia made ugly, not pretty. Moreover, day to day life is seldom extraordinary, so why would you adorn it with spectacular language? You risk making the events appear ridiculous or unrelatable.
i wonder if this has anything to do with the english translation??? i read it in german and felt completely different, it wasn't predictable at all, and I found a lot of it to be very unsettling.
As a guy, i bought the 1st book My Brilliant Friend because i thought it would give some insight of living and growing up in fascist italy. I was thinking of these wonderful B&W movies made in 40’s and 50’s in Italian realism mode.. i read the 1st 50 pages, stopped and tossed the book down the trash chute. I hated the writing style. It was too light weight with little color or depth of anything. I guess folks will say the 1st 50 pages were the worst pages the author ever wrote. Everything I’ve heard about this series by anyone who has ever commented on these books assures me the trash chute was the best choice.
Your problem is you went into it expecting something else! These books are raw & authentic to the harsh world of plebeian Naples. Open your mind & maybe try it again it’s a masterpiece
I agree with Lyndsay, it is truly a masterpiece and you should definitely give it another try. The first 50 pages of the first book follow two elementary school aged girls and the writing does reflect their age to a certain extent, but as the series progresses you realize that there is incredible depth to this story and the characters.
I really enjoyed her Neapolitan novels. I read them in Italian and her prose transports you.
Bimtav design I’m so glad the tv series exists now to lock me into how I pictured it all come to life and how it transports me, too. I’m glad you enjoyed the series as well!
Your voice is so soft and conforting! I agreed with all of your points, really great review :)
Thank you! I just binge watched the second season of the adaptation, it was wonderful!
@@whatpageareyouon yes!!! The cinematography as beautiful as always and everything was nailed
fabulous insight into Ferrante
I havent read any of her work, but this video makes me think I might want to.
Bookish glad to hear it Brian! Since I’ve just discovered you’ve never read Emma, consider yourself lucky! It’s Austen’s most drab-so reading Ferrante is a recommended substitute in my eyes haha
They are really light reading loved them
love this review! so much to think about
Great video, Alex! I’ve owned My Brilliant Friend in Italian for a few years. I thought about buying the other two Neapolitan novels, but I guess I should read the first one before I can decide if the quartet is for me!
Bookish Islander if you’re like me, you’d have wished you binge bought them at one time to just fly through them! I can’t imagine people having had to wait years at a time for each new release...the patience!
Thanks for this overview, Alex! I read the first book in Ferrante's tetralogy ages ago and loved it--particularly the strange "frenemy" dynamic emerging between Elena and Lila. Your explanation that this is mainly stage-setting for the latter novels makes me even more curious to complete the cycle.
Weird Book Book Club you have so much in store waiting for you! It really kicks into gear in book 2 as Elena finally gets some space to get to know herself better. I hope that when you get around to the rest of the series that you love it!
Wonderful review. Thank you!
Such thoughtful commentary in such a short video! Bravo. I am really looking forward to reading these books--perhaps this summer. Any chance you've seen the new book The Ferrante Letters: An Experiment in Collective Criticism?
Hannah's Books I saw it in the bookstore the other week! I flipped through it and think it’ll make a nice birthday gift to myself in a few weeks time per when family starts asking for ideas 🎁 📚 thanks for the kind words Hannah!
I’ve watched the 1st 2 season of this!
SPOILER ALERT
it finished with her 1st book being published & Lila working in the abattoir, she’s living with Enzo, is this not the end?
No, there are two more books that the series will follow
Hi are those Books you own in hardcover or paperback?
Have you watched the TV series on Hulu? Would love to know your thoughts if so!
I have! I really liked it, faithful yet draws those not familiar with the story in just enough to want more! What did you think of it??
I love that you started by stating the failure of the American editions on making covers into fashion. I am not a fan of them either.
Elsa Warhola an unfortunate marketing misfire, yet somehow makes it all the more memorable!
great video, i'm glad i found your channel!! the covers are actually the same as the italian editions (i read the novels in italian myself), they're kinda ugly i have to agree with you
also if you really like elena ferrante i recommend you read something from elsa morante, ferrante draws a lot from her (see how her pseudonym sounds similar to morante's name)
Thank you! And ah, I had no idea they were the same! Funny you mention it because I read Arturo's Island earlier this year and it still may be my favorite book of the year so far haha : )
awesome! that's one of my favourite books ever so i'm glad you liked it😁
Ferrante is a powerful narrator, but not a writer. Her language is a cascade of predictable adjectives and predictable combinations: irony is "good-natured", days "fly by", issues "unfold", conversations are "brilliant". It's all pre-chewed: "I was burning with desire, I couldn't wait to see him again". And then: "We were mad for love, time flew by". Nothing is unsettling. Everything proceeds in an epic way, but without style. And literature, you know, is just a matter of style.
I have to disagree. True, her style is toned down in the Neapolitan novels, but this is because writing has to match the pace and substance of the story. However, if you read Troubling Love, her first novel, the style of that particular story is both flashy and tender, like an undercurrent of melancholia made ugly, not pretty. Moreover, day to day life is seldom extraordinary, so why would you adorn it with spectacular language? You risk making the events appear ridiculous or unrelatable.
i wonder if this has anything to do with the english translation??? i read it in german and felt completely different, it wasn't predictable at all, and I found a lot of it to be very unsettling.
"ugly covers"? Im sorry but I love the american covers! :) peace
As a guy, i bought the 1st book My Brilliant Friend because i thought it would give some insight of living and growing up in fascist italy. I was thinking of these wonderful B&W movies made in 40’s and 50’s in Italian realism mode.. i read the 1st 50 pages, stopped and tossed the book down the trash chute. I hated the writing style. It was too light weight with little color or depth of anything. I guess folks will say the 1st 50 pages were the worst pages the author ever wrote. Everything I’ve heard about this series by anyone who has ever commented on these books assures me the trash chute was the best choice.
Your problem is you went into it expecting something else! These books are raw & authentic to the harsh world of plebeian Naples. Open your mind & maybe try it again it’s a masterpiece
I agree with Lyndsay, it is truly a masterpiece and you should definitely give it another try. The first 50 pages of the first book follow two elementary school aged girls and the writing does reflect their age to a certain extent, but as the series progresses you realize that there is incredible depth to this story and the characters.