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Cover of My Brilliant Friend

Fiction · 2012 · PG-13

My Brilliant Friend

by Elena Ferrante

Elena and Lila grow up in postwar Naples — a friendship that will define both their lives.

Named the #1 Book of the 21st Century by the New York Times: The “enduring classic” about the lifelong friendship of two women from Naples (The Atlantic). Beginning in the 1950s in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples, Elena Ferrante’s four-volume story spans almost sixty years, as its main characters, the fiery and unforgettable Lila and the bookish narrator, Elena, become women, wives, mothers, and leaders, all the while maintaining a complex and at times conflicted friendship. This first novel in the series follows Lila and Elena from their fateful meeting as ten-year-

For14+GenreFictionLength331 pagesRead time~9 hours

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What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.

Violence

Some

Violence; neighborhood brutality; domestic violence

Language

Barely any

Mild language

Sexual Content

Some

Coming-of-age sexual content; neighborhood exploitation

Substance Use

Barely any

Drinking

Emotional Intensity

Some

Themes of female friendship, ambition, and escape from poverty

What this book is about

The first Neapolitan novel (2011) follows Elena Greco and Lila Cerullo from childhood through adolescence in a rough Naples neighborhood. Features violence, coming-of-age sexual content, and the claustrophobic violence of their community. For mature teens and adults.

Notes for sensitive readers

Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.

Violence

Coming-of-age sexual content

Domestic violence

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