Spotlight on Books: WFM’S All Time Best: “My Brilliant Friend” and “The Neapolitan Novels” by Elena Ferrante

Falling in love with a work of art is not a predictable or linear process. We are frequently surprised when a book, concert, painting, play, movie or program challenges us intellectually and captures us emotionally. A classic example for me is the groundbreaking television series Breaking Bad featuring Bryan Cranston. I was a skeptic, not comprehending the buzz created by the show. The associates and young partners at my law firm raved about it and insisted that I take the leap and watch the program. In response, I requested a short description of the plot. I was advised the primary character was a benign and unremarkable high school science teacher, suddenly diagnosed with terminal cancer who chooses to become a “METH” drug designer and dealer in an effort to provide his family long term financial security after this departure. Ok, I thought-BIZARRE! Eventually, in the face of popular and critical acclaim we broke down and purchased the entire DVD series. Seven seasons! Amalia and I then watched the entire program during a wonderful 10 day stay at Esperanza in Cabo. The narrative was addictive, the writing outstanding, the character development superb and the twists and turns mesmerising. Breaking Bad assumed the top spot on my list of all time TV favourites, supplanting The Sopranos. It continues to hold that esteemed position today. Basically, you never know what will inspire your creative juices. Take risks in your artistic and entertainment choices.

The identical dynamic applies to my embrace of My Brilliant Friend and The Neapolitan Novels by Italian writer Elena Ferrante. It is a special work of fiction and has earned a place in “WFM’S ALL TIME BEST BOOKS." On the face of it, not a logical choice for me. It begins in 1950’s Naples, Italy and follows the lives of two young women- their friendship and the trials and tribulations that followed them from primary school thru adulthood. I am not Italian, I am a guy and have only spent 2 days in Naples- not a match made in heaven. BUT, I love these books. The term “Masterpiece” should be used rarely, but it definitely applies here. I recommend the series and suggest that you commit to reading them in order this summer. It will be time well spent.

Similar to my recommendation of The Power Broker, I am not wading into unconventional or revolutionary territory in my recognition of Ms Ferrante. My Brilliant Friend was a Booker Award finalist and was recently named the Best Book of the 21st Century by The New York Times Review of Books. There has been a successful TV adaptation. Ms Ferrante is a mysterious figure- writing under a pseudonym,. No interviews or media appearances. We know she resides in Naples but her exact identity remains unknown. She wrote The Neapolitan Novels over a five year period (2011-2015). The individual book titles are 1) My Brilliant Friend 2) Story of a New Name 3) Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay and 4) Story of a Lost Child. Other outstanding Ferrante novels are The Lost Daughter, Troubled Love and The Lying Life of Adults. I recommend those books as well, but start with The Neapolitan Novels.

What is the narrative here? There are two leading female character, Lila and Lenu. We meet them in grammar school. They are residents of a poor and working class grimy Naples neighbourhood. Lila’s father is a shoemaker and Lenu's is a train porter. Their surroundings are rather oppressive- close quarters where everyone seems to know everyone else’s business. Both girls are excellent students and have a supportive and mentoring female teacher. The themes that resonate from beginning to end are the importance of female friendship, social mobility, class struggle, economic and political powerlessness, gender inequality and the chilling effect of pervasive domestic and societal violence. These young ladies are operating in a challenging and foreboding environment and carving an independent path is almost impossible. Ferrante’s voice is compelling. She describes the complexity of the ongoing relationship of Lila and Lenu. It is a friendship, but one that is multi-layered and multi-dimensional. No cardboard or cartoon characters here. They are competitive, uncertain, jealous, frequently ambivalent but ultimately loyal and loving. The books can be characterized as “feminist” in the abstract because we witness the ambitions and achievements of both women. They both struggle to survive in an ultra- traditional society. Their strong bond and their rivalry keeps them on the road to independence.

The book also excels in portraying a particular time and place in vivid colours. Naples is a “character” in the novel, deserving equal billing with the humans that inhabit it. The non stop violence intersecting with Lila’s and Lena’s life journey is overwhelming. The home neighbourhood is ugly with people living in close quarters surrounded by loud and demanding family and friends. The poverty is stark and bone chilling. Hope is in short supply. Emotional abuse of spouses and partners is a core element of the social fabric. It is male centric and misogynist in the extreme. The slums are a brutal contrast to the modern and beautiful Naples downtown and seaside, Ferrante doesn’t shy away from highlighting the extreme economic disparities in Naples specifically and Italy generally. The Mafia and its criminality cast a powerful shadow over events. Naples has its own dialect and the language is deployed to create a world of corruption and venality. Women are culturally limited and dependent first on their fathers and then on their husbands. Women’s professional and economic success is not a priority- far down the list in the hierarchy of values honoured by society. Women remain possessions even in situations where the husband is modern, contemporary, kind and decent. Both Lila and Lenu acknowledge that male validation is critical to their self confidence.

Ferrante’s secondary characters are well drawn as well. Although her main focus is exposing female thinking and psychology, she does not ignore the men. And what diverse cast of characters they are! There are intriguing portraits of male parents, siblings, husbands, boyfriends, teachers, business partners and lovers. The level of “enlightenment” in the male characters varies widely. They are all different, facing their own challenging circumstances and certainly are not clones of one another or cartoon like stereotypes. Naples and Italy as depicted by Ms Ferrante is a never ending power struggle between the sexes.

There is joy in the book. Lila and Lenu drive the narrative and are attractive people. You root for them. They are friends, but radically different in their skill sets. Lila is beautiful, charismatic, wild, spontaneous and blessed with a great mind. She is a NATURAL. She would be a CEO today. Lenu is more restrained, but also highly intelligent. She is disciplined and focused and better positioned economically to pursue formal higher eduction. She excels in the classroom, although is always wary of Lila’s more intuitive brilliance. Lenu is not unattractive but not a magnet for constant male attention. Lila and Lenu are two sides of a brilliant and shiny coin- a coin with shades of texture. They complement one another and it occurred to me regularly that we would have a “perfect” person if their characters could be combined and blended into one formidable person. Ferrante is steadfast and patient in her character development. Both Lila and Lenu constantly grow as individuals and their friendship evolves and matures consistent with their life circumstances. Great stuff!

The Ferrante writing style is not lyrical or fancy. It is clean and crisp. It is intense and unvarnished, not elegant or whimsical. The prose is a mirror of rough and tumble Naples. It is emotionally lean and often raw, but it works beautifully. The powerful language propels the story forward and creates page turner reading experience. It is a psychological drama with emotional depth and intellectual integrity. She is a wonderful observer and a evocative storyteller. I believe the end result is hypnotic and engrossing. Lila and Lenu are phenomenal characters - complicated, wounded, dynamic, spirited and flawed. They have blindspots and the reader will disagree with many of their life choices, but The Neapolitan Novels is great literature. I dare you not to care about these people.

A concluding note. Ferrante writes in Italian and there are several English translations of her work available. Critics agree that the Ana Goldstein translations are first rate and capture and reflect Ferrante’s tone and subtlety the best. Look for the Goldstein translations for the entire series. It also would be great to know the true identity of Ms Ferrante. She must be an extraordinary person. We should respect her privacy. I also recommend you visit Naples on your next tour of italy. It is a brilliant and chaotic mosaic and you will appreciate its nuances more if you have read Ms Ferrante’s books before your visit.