I took a chance with this book. I don't generally go for the growing up/coming of age stories. I'm not usually one for those novels that describe the events of daily life. But I'd heard nothing but good about this book, and keeping with my pledge to try and introduce more translations into my reading list (I've been doing quite well at that, I think), I gave it a shot. 

My Brilliant Friend tells the story of two girls growing up together in Naples, Italy. It describes in details the happenings of their neighborhood, easily communicating the cultural community that is found in Italy. Anyone's life is everyone else's business. In many ways, I think readers easily relate to this book because Ferrante is so translucent and brutally honest with her descriptions of various things you experience while growing up. Jealousy, dependency, love, disappointment, friendship. The story captivated me, but I wasn't sad to see it go once I had finished. Partially, I think, due to the fact that I hate books that do not end with some sort of resolution. Not only was there not resolution, there wasn't even really a cliffhanger. It just... ended. Left a sour taste in my mouth, but that's just my preference. 

If you like relatable, easy reads (the language is very straight forward, a really well done translation) about growing up, the pressures (both real and imagined) of adolescence, and the real influence and power friendships have on our lives, you might enjoy this book. And maybe you'll grow to love/hate the characters, simultaneously, like I do.

p.s. I could count how many times this book swore on both my hands. It did take both my hands though, not just one. Also, along the vein of growing up and exploration and stuff, there are a couple paragraphs where Elena (the main character) and her boyfriend get a little... handsy? And in classic Ferrante fashion, she doesn't really dance around it. Like I'm doing right now.