My Brilliant Friend

Hm. I just finished “My Brilliant Friend,” and while I thought it was somewhat entertaining, I am at a loss as to understand how this novel is as great as major reviewers and other readers think it is. I found it just okay. Perhaps, a 2.4. Honestly, the best thing about the book was the relationship between Elena and Lila. Who didn't have that best friend growing up who made everything brighter, but who you also competed with a bit? The ebbs and flows of each girl's day-to-day successes were very realistic; it has been suggested that the novels are autobiographical, although the author's true identity remain a mystery. However, the author doesn't do a very good job of characterizing others in the book other than Lila and Elena; the other characters seemed like placeholders, which, perhaps, they were intended to be given Elena's inability to really fit in anywhere.

I also liked the descriptions of the lower middle class neighborhood filled with gossip and jealousy, where the world is small and close-knit. The author does manage to evoke life in the neighborhood and how amazing it is to visit Ischia or other parts of Naples.

The writing is also just okay. It's not bad, but it isn't anything special, and I don't think that is to do with the novel I read being a translation from Italian. This book seems most suited to the young adult category and is better than a lot of recent releases in that genre, but I can't find don't see the genius of it. After I reached the halfway point, the rest of the book was a bit of a slog. The “twist” at the end of the novel didn't compel me to continue the series; in a rather uncharacteristic move, I read summaries from reviews containing spoilers to learn what happens in the three sequels and I feel okay about it.