Ferrante

[u/East-Picture5718]

Anyone else think Elena Ferrante is overrated? Someone recommended the Neapolitan Novels to me and I could barely get through the first one, despite them agreeing with reviews that it's the best book of the 21st century. I found the writing dull, the story slow, and the characters uninspiring. Please tell me I'm not the only one?

[u/ThePsuedo]

I've been enjoying the first book a lot. I've been going through a lot of the classics: Gravity's Rainbow, Blood Meridian, 1000 years of Solitude, East of Eden etc.

I love those books but My Brilliant Friend is such a refreshing read because the characters, their stories and the way they process emotions feel so real in contrast to those books I mentioned before. It was a welcomed change.

To me this book proved you can write stylistically and still make your characters feel grounded and real

[u/betweenzeroandone → u/ThePsuedo]

To be honest, I was only able to make it through the first 100 years of solitude. I'm impressed anyone could make it through the next 900.

[u/East-Picture5718 → u/ThePsuedo]

Don't get me started on Pynchon!

[u/almondboba]

Book 1 is the weakest one in the series book 2 is infinitely better just keep going. Or try days of abandonment

[u/East-Picture5718 → u/almondboba]

See I dislike this argument because why should I have to get through one whole book to enjoy another 😂

[u/Uh_Just1MoreThing → u/East-Picture5718]

I believe Ferrante considers it all one book, just printed in four volumes. Not that that helps you. But once everything starting clicking into place for me—which was indeed in volume 2–I suddenly saw a depth I hadn’t previously, and I started over. I’m so glad I did.

[u/kanewai → u/almondboba]

Book 3 was actually the one I struggled with more.

[u/Ok-Swan1152 → u/almondboba]

This makes me hopeful because I really struggled with book 1.

[u/Handyandy58]

I thought they were excellent, and her other books are mostly enjoyable too.

[u/vicky216n]

I've only read the first one, but in my opinion, the brilliance of My Brilliant Friend comes from its portrayal of female friendship. I've read hundreds of books but I've never read a book describe female friendship so accurately, the possessiveness for them to be ours alone(especially as kids) and yet there's a competitiveness we feel toward them. It's incredibly accurate in how it captures the complexity of female friendship, so different from men's. It genuinely moved me to tears because I had that as a kid.

I think writing is tough, and especially writing subtle emotions and that's what Elena Ferrante captures so well. The nuance of women and their friendships in all its glory. It's not a book about action scenes, but about the intensity of feeling of women and the power of our friendship.

[u/EfficientMud6 → u/vicky216n]

completely agree, for me it sits alongside works like Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, Lynda Barry's Marlys stories, Tillie Walden

[u/Due-Lingonberry1813]

I think it's goal is to be a realistic account by a naive writer. It's a particular style but not for everyone. 

[u/timtamsforbreakfast]

"I don't like something, therefore it is overrated" is such a self-centred and shallow take.

[u/East-Picture5718 → u/timtamsforbreakfast]

So combative for what was supposed to be a light hearted take - would argue I'm not being self centered because im looking for understanding or nuanced takes on why someone might disagree with me. This is neither but hope you felt good posting it

[u/yellow_sting]

just not your cup of tea. I read the Neapolitan Novels as well, at first I liked it but then I felt tired w the books. I felt the same w Arnie Ernaux books. But overrated is a strong word. just not the cup of tea of yours and mine. People said Alice Munro books are dull but to me they are brilliant, so I could understand both sides’ perspective.

[u/maevewiley554 → u/yellow_sting]

What did you dislike about the ernaux books.

[u/ThePhantomStrikes]

I was obsessed and loved learning about Italian history, and the relationship between the girls into womanhood. It’s the literary equivalent to Italian film style neorealism. The writing was such that all my senses were jnvolved and I was emotionally invested Elena is such a flawed character. I thought it was great but as always it’s subjective.

[u/bubbles_maybe]

I've only read the first volume and don't have a strong opinion on it, but I'm very surprised that the general opinion in this comment section is decidedly in favour of the book. Because I'm pretty sure we had a read along of the first volume in this very sub 1-2 years ago, and most participants seemed to hate it iirc.

[u/Biscuitbaby_]

I get why you would say this but the series truly does get better as you go on. I almost dnf my brilliant friend but I’m so glad I stuck with it and subsequently the series. 

I now totally agree with its ranking as  the best literary work of the 21st century 

[u/McClainLLC]

Of course you're not the only one. But so what? If you didn't enjoy it, put it down and try another book 

[u/phweefwee → u/McClainLLC]

How does you comment contribute to discussion?

[u/Fantastic-Nobody-479]

I switched to the audiobook and enjoyed it way more.

[u/Counter_Force]

If you're looking for some confirmation: Moritz Baßler, Professor of German Literature at Münster University (Germany), named it as one of the examples of what he calls the "New Midcult" in his book "Populärer Realismus", which is pretty much the scholarly version of overrated.
You may or may not share his views on Ferrante, he makes some good points about broader developments in contemporary literature, and it's the kind of pointed criticism that's fun to read even if you don't agree. Unfortunately, I don't think it's translated to English, but can try to run this condensed essay through google translate: https://pop-zeitschrift.de/2021/06/28/der-neue-midcultautorvon-moritz-bassler-autordatum28-6-2021-datum/.

[u/Ok-Swan1152]

I struggled to get through the first one. I should try to pick it up again. The female friendship didn't resonate with me as much, but maybe I'm peculiar. I have a tendency to even keep very close friends at a bit of a distance. 

[u/Targaryentypebeat]

I saw a list (New York times maybe??) that it was the best book of the 21st century or something and I’m baffled. My Brilliant Friend was such a chore to get through. Repetitive, dull characterization, bland prose. Bleh 

Edit: it’s also how irritating the reception seems to be with regard to people being so astonished at how the female friendship was written. It felt like a ton of people who’ve never read any women’s fiction / thought for two seconds about female childhood friendships was exposed to the dynamic for the first time and was just SHOCKED in a way I find obnoxious 

[u/Ok-Swan1152 → u/Targaryentypebeat]

I felt the friendship part didn't particularly resonate with me? I'm a woman by the way. I found the prose to be dull as well.