Episode · The Book Review · 2024-08-23
Books mentioned on Book Club: 'My Brilliant Friend,' by Elena Ferrante
Gilbert Cruz discussed The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith, and read My Brilliant Friend by Chiara Lagani and others for a book club. Greg Cowles recommended The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem, Stay True by Hua Hsu, and A Separate Peace by John Knowles, and discussed The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante. Joumana Khatib recommended Innocents and others by Dana Spiotta. Emily Eakin recommended Inseparable by Simone de Beauvoir. MJ Franklin recommended The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue and In Memoriam by Alice Winn.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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The Talented Mr. Ripley
The Talented Mr.
Discussed“our last one was about The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia heith that book is the basis for the absolutely killer 1999 film adaptation”
Where to get it
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My Brilliant Friend
My Brilliant Friend by Chiara Lagani, Elena Ferrante, and Mara Cerri is the acclaimed opening volume of the Neapolitan quartet tracking the lifelong friendship of two women in Italy.
Book club“this month MJ gathers a group of editors to talk about my brilliant Friend by Elena fante which recently topped the book reviews poll of great 21st century books”
Where to get it
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The Days of Abandonment
The Days of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante is a searing and intense novel that follows a woman's psychological unraveling after her husband abruptly leaves her and their two children.
Discussed“I have read all of the Neapolitan series I've also read the days of Abandonment a very short novel that she wrote”
Where to get it
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Innocents and others
Dana Spiotta's novel Innocents and Others explores complex themes of female friendship and artistic creation across various disciplines including film and music.
Recommended“and the book that I'm thinking of is called innocence in others this is about a similar female friendship this time”
Where to get it
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Inseparable
Inseparable is a novelized memoir by Simone de Beauvoir that explores a profound female friendship during youth.
Recommended“this is one I actually thought maybe Jam would mention it is in separable by Simone deovir which is a novelized memoir written in the 50s”
Where to get it
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The Fortress of Solitude
The Fortress of Solitude is a 2003 novel by Jonathan Lethem that follows the lives of two friends growing up in a rapidly changing Brooklyn during the late twentieth century, blending elements of urban realism with magical realism and comic book mythology.
Recommended“the novel is Jonathan Liam's novel The Fortress of Solitude from 2003 it tells the story of two friends”
Where to get it
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Stay True
Stay True by Hua Hsu is a poignant memoir that chronicles the author's deep friendship with a college classmate whose life was tragically cut short, exploring grief, Asian American identity, and coming of age in the 1990s.
Recommended“which leads me to my second recommendation which is wasu's stay true published in 23 A Memoir of his friendship”
Where to get it
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The Rachel Incident
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue is a witty, contemporary Irish coming-of-age novel that explores the complex dynamics of young friendship, romance, and ambition against the backdrop of the economic crash in Cork.
Recommended“one of my favorite books about friendship is the Rachel incident by Caroline odonna Hugh this is a contemporary Irish novel”
Where to get it
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A Separate Peace
A Separate Peace is a classic novel by John Knowles set at a New England boarding school during the early years of World War II, exploring themes of adolescence, jealousy, and the loss of innocence.
Recommended“want to mention I'll mention a separate piece by John nolles which is just a beautiful book”
Where to get it
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In Memoriam
In Memoriam by Alice Winn is a poignant historical novel that charts a complicated romance and deep friendship between two young men set against the brutal backdrop of the First World War.
Recommended“and I'm going to flash through one title too and that is in memorium by Alice win this is a complicated friendship set during World War I”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (4) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“and last but not least we have Emily aen editor extraordinaire here at the book review and she was last year for our good material discussion”
“I think before the Neapolitan series and unlike Jama I have read that collection of columns and essays I have read fralia”
“I know Wayward was huge a few years ago yeah yeah yeah yeah”
“can also talk quickly about Hashem mat's book my friends longlisted for the booker unlike the other ones”