2015: The Year of Reading Women discussion

Discussion and Group reads for Elena Ferrante

Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_Fe...

I'm excited to read her Neapolitan novels. Moreover it would be interesting to see what others make of her writing.

Thank you Kris for inviting me. Probably because I've given the coveted 5 stars to the first 2, and then wondered how she read the first and didn't immediately continue! Just finished 2, can't wait for my line copy of 3, went out to buy it. I'm desperate to talk about this series and hope to see SE discussion here. The author has kept her identity secret, and many think she's actually a famous male italian author writing under a pseudonym, ha! This is so obviously written by a woman.

Ugh on phone, can't edit, sorry for typos

here is a great overview of ferrante (don't worry, reviewer doesn't really give anything away) and some speculation of who ferrante actually is. don't worry, the reviewer again is coy about it but fun speculation too. http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archi...

My friend just sent to me this morning! There's a spoiler if you've started the series, but nothing that surprising.

I just bought My Brilliant Friend and can't wait to start reading.

Yay!

Kalliope wrote: "Discussion and Group reads for Elena Ferrante

Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_Fe..."

Kalliope, I just finished My Brilliant Friend and was wondering if there will be a group read here on TYORW? I would love to discuss it.

I read the first. In line to get the second from the library. I love books about "geniuses" so I had to read "My Brilliant Friend."

Anyone about to read Story of the Lost Child? It comes out tomorrow, I preordered from Amazon, never do that but had to for this!

Is that the fourth title in the Naples series? I'll be reading it sometime in September, for sure.

Yes it is and yay, would love to discuss.

Yes, will read it very soon. Very excited for it!

Oh, great. I want to read the 4th and in fact re-read the whole series soon. It's rare to read a social and realistic novel that is also deftly written, and with real people rather than caricatures.

Yay we have a discussion group!

I'm waiting for the first volume to be returned to the library. These novels surely made waves!

Very much looking forward to your reactions! The problem now is they are so overhyped which sets me up for disappointment.

I've got My Brilliant Friend to read soon - thought it was in the calendar but apparently not? Shall I just go ahead with it when ready?

I read My Brilliant Friend with a GR group a couple of weeks ago and liked it a lot. I found that my response to it grew stronger the deeper I went into the book. Very much looking forward to the following books though I can't jump in immediately due to other commitments.

Lori, I wouldn't worry too much about the hype. I'd heard so much generally about the book too, which may have played a part in my slow involvement in the beginning. But I found that the story really did pull me in.

Zanna wrote: "I've got My Brilliant Friend to read soon - thought it was in the calendar but apparently not? Shall I just go ahead with it when ready?"

Zanna, I would go ahead and start it. All of us here who have been reading the series can discuss it with you.

I will then once I've managed to read The Four-Gated City

What hype? A review in Harper's, which I find trustworthy, led me to the books.

I've read both "My Brilliant Friend" and "Story of a New Name" with the past year. I found both books emotionally rich and very satisfying. Ferrante sketches out a rough childhood in Naples with all the complex & mysterious relationships the adults have with each other. The translations are clear and the writing is straight-forward; it does not get in the way of the story. I've really enjoyed the two books and look forward to the unfolding of the rest of the series. I do recommend not reading the books in fast succession as the 2nd book does back track a bit and covers part of the end of the 1st book. Plus, I think you will want to let the story settle in your mind. I had let about 6 months pass before reading the 2nd novel, and I felt it was a good amount of time.

Haha I couldn't do that myself, read all 3 in 1 big marathon session!

I haven't yet read My Brilliant Friend, and would like to some time soon as well, not sure when I'll get to it though. If there was a group read going on that would inspire me!

@Garima, Ellie, Zanna, Alexa (I hope I haven't missed anyone interested) - I would love to join any read of My Brilliant Friend, but, should you be willing to wait, I'm not sure when it's returned to the library. It should be at some point at the end of September -26th? Do you all have copies? (I assume Ellie does.)

I don't have a copy, but could probably get a library copy in about two weeks - anytime in the next few months would work for me, I'm not in a hurry.

The more the merrier, I'd certainly participate in that discussion. We could have 2 separate threads, for the 1st and the 4th.

So for those who want to read (or re-read) the first, what timing works best for you?

I can participate in a discussion of the first book anytime.

For me - starting with the very beginning of October.

October is great for me!
Elena Ferrante is London Review Bookshop's author of the month

October works for me.

There was a fun NPR piece on about her yesterday:
http://www.npr.org/2015/09/01/4362891...

Nice, thanks for that link!

I'm about to start Story of the Lost Child and wondering when others are - when to start a discussion.

That's really intriguing Alexa!

It could be 6-8 weeks before I get a copy from the library.

Michele wrote: "It could be 6-8 weeks before I get a copy from the library."

You're referring to #4 here, not #1 right? Perhaps we need to separate the threads?

Good idea! I'll do it now for #4

I will do #1 in a few moments.

I added both books to the group bookshelf - The Story of the Lost Child without dates, My Brilliant Friend tentatively scheduled for October.

Links:
#1: My Brilliant Friend - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

#4: Story of the Lost Child, done by Lori - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Yes, I can do #1 any time and I could do #4 in a couple of months.