My Brilliant Friend By Elena Ferrante
A book review of a classic in the making
Warning, contains spoilers
My Brilliant Friend centers the kinship between Elena, and Lila, her precocious friend, as they navigate patriarchy, puberty, and the violence of post-WWII Italy.
They don’t live in a time where intellect is rewarded among young, poor girls, so in order to attain an education, Elena and Lila must be crafty. They scrounge up pennies for used books, beg their parents to attend class, and sneak in time between chores and work to study. Thanks to their wit, determination, and the support of a few caring teachers, the two girls are able to attend a modest elementary school.
Initially they both excel, although it becomes clear Lila is the sharpest. She earns high marks in every subject, and has a vocabulary that far exceeds her years. Few of her peers can keep up, and for a brief moment everyone is in agreement that this extraordinary little girl will go on to achieve many great things. But as they get ready to enter into higher levels, Li…
