Welcome to Litsy!

This graphic adaptation was a bit of both: great and terrible. The artwork was great in that it captured the unsettling nature of the girls‘ relationship, but it was terribly creepy, too. I think this would be best for readers who love the book already because this adaptation only provides the broad strokes of the story. I felt a bit lost never having read the actual book. At the same time, it didn‘t make me more likely to pick the full book up.

My up-next shelf is overflowing!! 😂🤦🏻‍♀️ My #bookspin and #doublespin aren‘t even on there because I started both today. Unfortunately, I‘m unsure of both. I‘m not really enjoying the art in the MBF adaptation. It‘s truly unsettling in a way I don‘t like! (It works well with the story but v creepy!) Invisible is more aimed at women in their 20s. I bought it in my 30s, but finally picking it up in my 40s the advice skews a bit young. We‘ll see!

Birthday gift from two beloved friends, read today (1/1/24).

Beautiful and unsettling, this graphic novel adaptation conveys through its art the sense of memories, sometimes vague, other times sharp and clear. The confines of their upbringing is felt perhaps most in the focused moments of glimpses of sky, the sea.

This brought back memories of reading the quartet years ago, the poignancy and the drama.

https://youtu.be/yYhlhWbUqNs?si=_JDenYvpQMXJlZXS

The Written Image: My Brilliant Friend by Jen DeGregorio - in Poets and Writers magazine: https://www.pw.org/content/the_written_image_my_brilliant_friend_0

In this graphic novel retelling of the first in Elena Ferrente‘s Neapolitan quartet, Mari Cerri‘s impressionistic pencil and watercolour art carries much of what I loved about the original: the complicated emotional connection between two girls as they grow up into women in a dangerous and chauvinistic environment. The story condensed to major plot points is all I needed to love this story all over again. Translation by Ann Goldstein.

Why don‘t we write a book, too?
Yes, but when school‘s over.

Recent Reads November 18: Giller winner & protest; Indigenous books; picture books for all ages; audiobooks; crafting; graphic novels… there‘s something for everyone!
https://youtu.be/x3K-R-2fkis

I‘m a huge fan of Ferrante‘s novel (I loved the entire Neapolitan Quartet) so had to check out this new graphic novel adaptation. Striking artwork and captures the essence of the original. I mean, the novel is better so definitely read that first if you are interested. But, if you‘ve already read it or you‘re curious about the story and just want a lovely condensed version, this is well done.