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Meine geniale Freundin
Meine geniale Freundin: Band 1 der Neapolitanischen Saga (Kindheit und Jugend) Roman | Elena Ferrante
Sie knnten unterschiedlicher kaum sein und sind doch unzertrennlich, Lila und Elena, schon als junge Mdchen beste Freundinnen. Und sie werden es ihr ganzes Leben lang bleiben, ber sechs Jahrzehnte hinweg, bis die eine spurlos verschwindet und die andere auf alles Gemeinsame zurckblickt, um hinter das Rtsel dieses Verschwindens zu kommen. Im Neapel der fnfziger Jahre wachsen sie auf, in einem armen, berbordenden, volkstmlichen Viertel, derbes Fluchen auf den Straen, Familien, die sich seit Generationen befehden, das Silvesterfeuerwerk artet in eine Schieerei aus. Hier gehen sie in die Schule, die unangepasste, draufgngerische Schustertochter Lila und die schchterne, beflissene Elena, Tochter eines Pfrtners, beide darum wetteifernd, besser zu sein als die andere. Bis Lilas Vater seine noch junge Tochter zwingt, dauerhaft in der Schusterei mitzuarbeiten, und Elena mit dem bohrenden Verdacht zurckbleibt, eine Gelegenheit zu nutzen, die eigentlich ihrer Freundin zugestanden htte. Ihre Wege trennen sich, die eine geht fort und studiert und wird Schriftstellerin, die andere wird Neapel nie verlassen, und trotzdem bleiben Elena und Lila sich nahe, sie begleiten einander durch erste Liebesaffren, Ehen, die Erfahrung von Mutterschaft, durch Jahre der Arbeit und Episoden politischer Bewusstwerdung, zwei eigensinnige, unnachgiebige Frauen, die sich nicht zuletzt gegen die Zumutungen einer brutalen, von Mnnern beherrschten Welt behaupten mssen. Sie bleiben einander nahe, aber es ist stets eine zwiespltige Nhe: aus Befremden und Zuneigung, aus Rivalitt und Innigkeit, aus Missgunst und etwas, das grer und stiller ist als Lieben. Liegt hier das Geheimnis von Lilas Verschwinden? Elena Ferrante hat ein literarisches Meisterwerk von unermesslicher Strahlkraft geschrieben, ein von hinreienden Figuren bevlkertes Sittengemlde und ein zupackend aufrichtiges Epos ber die rettende und zerstrerische, die weltverndernde Kraft einer Freundschaft, die ein ganzes langes Leben whrt.
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Night_Reader
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Pickpick

5/5 ❤️

After all these years, re-reading this series has solidified it as my all-time favourite! The characters of Elena and Lila and their intense friendship are so real, raw, and honest, making it all incredibly relatable. The writing is simply brilliant! ❤️

Balibee146 I have had the first on my TBR shelf for ages... Just bought the other 3 in these matching editions, though the final book "like new" is a bit of a state and I will probably have to repurchase ?Looking forward to finally getting to them. 1mo
15 likes1 comment
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Adventures_of_a_French_Reader
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Pickpick

Reread
Ferrante's writing is excellent, it transports us to another time and place, making us invisible observers of the life and culture of a Neapolitan neighborhood. We grow attached to the different characters, we get to know their good and bad sides, their aspirations too.
Definitely recommend it.

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REPollock
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Bailedbailed

Bailing at 19%. I heard so much praise for this author but I can‘t stand the characters and don‘t want to spend more time following their stories.

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Therewillbebooks
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Pickpick

New episode just posted! This week we are discussing the much praised, and beloved novel, “My Brilliant Friend“ by Elena Ferrante. We delve into Ferrante's mysterious identity and discuss criticism in the modern age. But mostly we discuss this brilliant, personal, and captivating novel. Enjoy!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3CKVxGb3QEHJCWTDjwNTYe

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Therewillbebooks
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Having fun preparing for this episode. Does anyone know what came of the rumor that Ferrante was really Domenico Starnone? People talked like there was conclusive evidence years ago but I can't find anything recent.

TheKidUpstairs Not exactly helpful, but I've also read rumours that Ferrante and Starnone are not the same person, but rather a married couple. 2mo
Therewillbebooks @TheKidUpstairs Yeah, Starnone's wife is a translator. There were some articles from 2021 where an algorithm supposedly proved it but I couldn't find anything more recent. 2mo
33 likes2 comments
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mjtwo
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Pickpick

2-6 Sep 24 (audiobook)
A re-read on audio following it coming it at number 1 of the NYT books of this century so far.
I loved revisiting Lila‘s tempestuous nature and Elena‘s jealousy, the limited options for women and prevalence of violence in 1950s Naples and the power of education, even if this is not always recognised by Elena. Did it deserve the number one spot? I am not sure but I do appreciate that the place was taken by a ‘woman‘s novel‘.

17 likes1 stack add
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GatheringBooks
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Thanks to a Gift Article, I was able to get into the arguably 100 best books of the 21st century (very Western-centric, as expected - hardly any Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern, Aussie, African novels, which again is the crux as to why most things are going wrong with the world). Among the 13 I plan to read - most are in my bookshelves, save for around five titles I have yet to find. Still much to go with my reading. How about you?

Suet624 Is this The NY Times list that you‘re referring to? 4mo
GatheringBooks @Suet624 yes! It is! Have you done it too? 💕 4mo
Suet624 I feel conflicted about the list. I felt especially so when they named My Brilliant Friend #1. I liked seeing some of the books that folks recommended (especially Constellation of Vital Phenomena). Then I cancelled my subscription after Biden‘s debate when they immediately said he should quit which started the conversation. So now I can‘t see the list. 🥴😂 (edited) 4mo
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GatheringBooks @Suet624 shared the gift article above 💕 4mo
Suet624 @GatheringBooks thank you! 4mo
Suet624 I‘ve read 39 on the list. Now I see all the other ones I want to read! 4mo
46 likes7 comments
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Cazxxx
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Read 21 and 6 I still want to read

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ManyWordsLater
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And just as many on my TBR from this list.

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lauraisntwilder
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I didn't even like all 9 of the ones I've read. Not a fan of the list, in general. Obviously, I've only read a small portion, so I can't say they aren't good books, but I don't think multiple books from the same series should've been included (even if the whole Neapolitan series is amazing). No Lorrie Moore, Per Petterson, Mieko Kawakami, or Lauren Groff?

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BekaReid
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NYT's 100 best books of the 21st century intrigued me. I've read 22 and have several others on my TBR list.

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Jari-chan
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Joining in on the fun 😁 Thanks to @jlhammar for the link ❤️

I've met a lot more authors I've read, but not the listed books 😅

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mcctrish
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#nytbest100 I‘ve read 32 and I have to say their number 1 is not my favourite on any list 🤣🤣🤣 and I know I‘m in a minority. I have 7 in my crazy stacks around the house to read and many more on my wishful thinking TBR. It is odd that there are repeats by some authors and categories of books are missing

ShelleyBooksie I have read none of the top 20 - apparently I am not well read. Lol 4mo
mcctrish @ShelleyBooksie and I think the #1 book is a stinker so here we are 🤣🤣🤣 4mo
Susanita It wasn‘t my least favorite, but I didn‘t especially like the No. 1 choice either. 4mo
Deblovestoread I am part of your minority. 4mo
55 likes4 comments
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Susanita
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🌹Assorted #authoramonth authors past and future: Zadie Smith, Shirley Jackson, Ray Bradbury, Sarah Waters
🌼 Tagged
🌺 In high school I read a couple James Michener chunksters, and I think that sparked my interest in historical fiction.
#wondrouswednesday

Eggs #2 I tried that one but couldn‘t stick with it…thx for playing🥰 5mo
28 likes1 comment
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arlenefinnigan
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Pickpick

This is a superb, beautifully written novel. It follows the intense and complicated friendship of Lila and Lenu through their childhood and adolescence in post war Naples. It depicts the poverty and violence, and the complex social dynamics, vividly. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the quartet.

Ruthiella This quartet is stellar! 5mo
zezeki I love this quartet! Ferrante's writing is superb! 5mo
arlenefinnigan @Ruthiella really enjoying it so far! 5mo
arlenefinnigan @zezeki yeah the writing is so vivid, really looking forward to the rest of the quartet! 5mo
29 likes4 comments
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emmasm08
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Pickpick

This is the first of 4 books following the lives of 2 girls - this one is based in Naples in the 1950‘s - I loved it , it captures all the drama, grittiness and glamour of Italian life in Naples as 2 young girls evolve into women .

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RaeLovesToRead
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Just in case you haven't had enough of me going on about Italy, here is 20 mins of RAE IN ITALY CONTENT.

https://youtu.be/UYysTjNgmY8?feature=shared

Badly spliced holiday footage? YES
Dreadful holiday apartment audio? YES
Book ranting? YES
Excessively large notebook shopping? YES

This video has it all.

The last 5 mins is me reviewing My Brilliant Friend and The Enchanted April. #booktube

Amor4Libros Just subscribed to your channel 🤗 6mo
RaeLovesToRead @Amor4Libros Awww!! 🥰🥰 Thanks for the support! My vids aren't usually this haphazard... oh, who am I kidding, yes they are! 😅 6mo
Velvetfur Such a cute little vid! I left you a comment and subscribed 😁 6mo
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RaeLovesToRead @Velvetfur Thank you so much!!!! 🥰🥰 Glad you enjoyed it. Venice was amazing and a paper-lover's paradise!!! 6mo
Velvetfur @RaeLovesToRead I've always been scared to go to Venice as I have a real fear of 'big water' (swimming pools, seas, oceans) but now I want to go after seeing 'real' footage from you 😁🩷 6mo
RaeLovesToRead @Velvetfur Hmm... well it is quite watery, but on the other hand there are cannoli everywhere... 💕💕 6mo
Suet624 The video was great! Thanks for sharing. 6mo
RaeLovesToRead @Suet624 Aww, thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it 🤗💕 5mo
55 likes9 comments
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RaeLovesToRead
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Pickpick

This was fantastic, but doesn't stand alone. Finishing it feels only like finishing the end of a chapter.

My Brilliant Friend is about two girls growing up in a neighbourhood in Naples. It rings true in a way that is either very clever, or based largely on the author's own personal experiences. Essentially, it has a biographical feel to it.

I will reserve final judgement until I've completed the quartet, but this book was immensely readable.

jlhammar Hope you enjoy the rest! I thought the whole quartet was brilliant. 6mo
RaeLovesToRead @jlhammar It's a promising start! Look forward to the next ones arriving 6mo
sarahbarnes I loved this one, and still need to read the rest. 6mo
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Ruthiella I loved this quartet! 6mo
LeeRHarry I found reading this series was a real endeavour but it was so worthwhile by the end.😊 6mo
Velvetfur Oh I'm obsessed with this quartet, some of my favourite books ever! I'm glad you're into it too now as well ☺️ When you've read this you'll have to watch the first series of the TV adaptation, it's just as good! Then after the second book, watch the second series, then the third.... They haven't done the fourth yet ☺️ 6mo
RaeLovesToRead @sarahbarnes @Ruthiella @LeeRHarry @Velvetfur I just found myself dragged into the flow of the story against my will. I zoomed through it. Definitely onto the next right away! 💕 6mo
Branwen I keep wanting to read this! 6mo
64 likes8 comments
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arlenefinnigan
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Next up. My husband got me the Neapolitan novels for my birthday cos we're hoping to go to Naples this year.

BarbaraBB Naples is fantastic 💕 6mo
arlenefinnigan @BarbaraBB really looking forward to going! 6mo
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arlenefinnigan
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Aw. Andy got me the Neapolitan novels as pre holiday reading for my birthday.

Ruthiella Happy birthday! 🥳 That cover is great. 👍 The US Europa Editions were so ugly IMO. 7mo
BarbaraBB Happy birthday 🎈 7mo
arlenefinnigan @Ruthiella thank you! 7mo
arlenefinnigan @BarbaraBB thank you! 7mo
31 likes4 comments
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SanjanaGhosh
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Mehso-so

M for A to Z challenge!

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GatheringBooks
L'amica geniale | Elena Ferrante
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#ItTakesAllKinds Day 21: These Elena Ferrante novels are #WithEyes. Found in a bookstore in Bologna.

Eggs 👀 ❤️ 👁️ 8mo
45 likes1 comment
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LaurenMags
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this first book in an Italian series about friendship.

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JenReadsAlot
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1. Can I celebrate Galentine's Day instead? Lol. But I will always take chocolate
2. Tagged - I really enjoyed that series
Thanks @Kshakal @TheSpineView #two4Tuesday

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks My husband just asked me what galentines day is 😂 9mo
JenReadsAlot @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Ha! It's us strong amazing women who celebrate each other 💕 9mo
TheSpineView ❤️🍫 Thanks for playing! 9mo
26 likes3 comments
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lil1inblue
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1. The hubs and I don't participate in Valentine's Day, but I *do* love Galentine's Day! And I would love to get a book or bookish accessory for Galentine's Day. (I'm giving bookmarks with my little bundles!) 😍
2. My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante is an excellent example of platonic love between 2 friends. The book is just a great read, as well.

Happy Tuesday!

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La_Cori
L'amica geniale | Elena Ferrante
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#LuckyInLove
Day 1: holding hands
👰🤝🤵 This is the first cover that has come to my mind, even though we can't see the hands clearly behind the veil..

@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

IuliaC Nice cover and lovely novel!! 9mo
Eggs Love this cover❤️🤝❤️ 9mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful 😍 9mo
57 likes3 comments
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AgneseC
L'amica geniale | Elena Ferrante

Mio libro preferito

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anushareflects
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Pickpick

A coming of age story about two young girls in Naples and a social commentary on masculinity & social dynamics of the working class in the 1960s. The writing is rich and characters beautifully crafted. Lots to think about. I immediately bought the next book in the series.

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currentlyreadinginCO
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Pickpick

Upsides of work travel are kindle dates with myself 💯

I loved this novel. I found it subtle and beautiful; I missed it when it wasn't in my hands.

JenReadsAlot Perfect! 1y
Kerrbearlib Food looks yummy! 1y
Amor4Libros Loved this one! 1y
BarbaraBB Food looks good 😊 1y
81 likes4 comments
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currentlyreadinginCO
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I've been worse 😉

jlhammar Looks perfect! I love the Neapolitan Novels. 1y
currentlyreadinginCO I am only 46% into the first one and man! What a story! ❣️ @jlhammar 1y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful 😍 1y
62 likes3 comments
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GatheringBooks
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#MayMontage Day 9: #InvolvesAWedding - my friend took this photo of tagged book I gifted to her while she was in Brussels. Bought it for her when we spent a week together in Madrid since she was dating an Italian-American guy at the time - now the father of her child. 💕

Eggs Lovely 🥰 1y
60 likes1 comment
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Leftcoastzen
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#TemptingTitles #WithMeOrMy I have read the first two of four …. #badatseries 🙄😁

Eggs Brilliant 🤗 2y
CatMS Have read the first in series, will read the others eventually 2y
54 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Moll
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March #BookSpinBingo 🙌 Am not thinking strategically enough to get a line clearly😂 I read the #DoubleSpin for the month too - N. P. 🌟

Just about to write my list for April!!😁 Of course won't look at the bingo board until I have written my list

@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Fantastic month!! 2y
16 likes2 comments
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Moll
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Pickpick

The relationship between the 2 mains in this is fascinating and I'm very much intrigued enough to want to read the rest of the series. Quite repetitive to me in parts but on the whole p good!

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Emilymdxn
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Pickpick

I reread this old favourite partly as a distraction from masters work and partly because my friend @moll just started reading it for the first time and I wanted a refresher. I might have loved it even more than ever. I don‘t normally think of books as relatable for me or even want them to be, but Lenu is the one exception to that. I ache for her so hard I feel like she IS me. I was worried rereading that I‘d feel it less but I think I felt it more

JuniperWilde I loved this book too. 🤍 2y
49 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Moll
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Next up!

jlhammar Loved this book so much! The whole quartet is brilliant. Enjoy! 2y
Moll @jlhammar Eeee awesome!! I've heard great things! 2y
18 likes2 comments
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Nessavamusic
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#WeekendReads
1. Listening to tagged and reading an ARC of The Bone Shard War by Andrea Stewart
2. Nora Roberts, R.F. Kuang, Robin Hobb, Rebecca Roanhorse, Patricia Briggs to name just a few!
3. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot - fascinating and heartbreaking

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katy4peas

Thank you my dear #litsylove friends dls the book mail surprise and the holiday cards. I haven‘t been on as lots of family things going on. 🙁 but things are slowly getting better. Thanks for thinking of me. @LitsyLove

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️❤️❤️ 2y
31 likes1 comment
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Bookwomble
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Oh, yeah - I forgot I got these as well. My "mini" #BookHaul looking less mini now ?
I first heard about My Brilliant Friend on Richard E. Grant's travel/book show and was intrigued, then saw how popular it is and wondered how it had passed me by ?
Similarly, Dream Story is an Austrian decadent book I'm surprised not to have previously noticed. Damn it! How many more books are there for me to read? ?

jlhammar Oh how I loved reading My Brilliant Friend (and the rest of the Neapolitan Novels). Hope you enjoy! 2y
Bookwomble @jlhammar I hope so, too 😊 I'll try to get to it fairly quickly, as the second-hand bookshop I got it from had the rest of the series at a pretty low price, so I'll see if I can pick them up if I get on with this one. 2y
shortsarahrose Love the Neapolitan Novels! 2y
batsy Nice! I've got the Neapolitan quartet waiting for me on my shelves 🙈 2y
Bookwomble @shortsarahrose @batsy These are good indications 😊 2y
36 likes5 comments
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TheEllieMo
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A classic and, I‘m sure, a popular choice for the #Friendship prompt for #NovemberNarrative

@Eggs
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Eggs Brilliant!! 2y
32 likes1 comment
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SusanLee
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Eggs Brilliant 👍🏼 2y
17 likes2 comments
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eeclayton
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Mehso-so

For much of the book, I didn't get what all the hype was about. It wasn't a bad read, I just put the book down in between chapters and then didn't feel like continuing that much. However, the last 30 pages or so were great and I started to see how everything that had been told earlier was necessary and valuable. ⬇️

eeclayton That didn't make me like the book more in hindsight, though, neither did it make the super big cliffhanger at the end forgivable. Not sure I'll pick up the next book in the series. 2y
Ruthiella I sorta think of the four Ferrante books together as one long novel - like Knaussgard or Proust. I loved them but can see where they aren‘t favorites for other readers. 2y
eeclayton @Ruthiella That makes sense. I may try them some other time, maybe this was just not the right timing for me. 2y
tamaryn1217 looks great. wish there was an english version. 2y
eeclayton @tamaryn1217 I'm sure there is. The original is in Italian but it's been translated into lots of languages (I read it in Hungarian). 2y
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saratave
L'amica geniale | Elena Ferrante
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Bailedbailed

Io e il mio amico geniale

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SusanLee
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tokorowilliamwallace Ooh, I'm sure I can find a few for this book mood. I'll look. 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks On my shelf 📚 2y
Eggs Well done 👍🏼 2y
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SusanLee @tokorowilliamwallace or you can ask Mr Google for assistance 😅 2y
SusanLee @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks it wasn‘t my cup of tea though it‘s highly rated 😅 2y
tokorowilliamwallace @SusanLee Sorry, I meant searching through my stacks at home. I've been picking up a lot of fiction published between the 50s and 80s. It'll be a fun aside for me to peruse for these book moods. 2y
SusanLee @tokorowilliamwallace oh no worries 😅👍🏻 2y
13 likes7 comments