All the books referenced in the series My Brilliant Friend
First of all, if you haven’t watched the series, this is your sign to do so. Second, I’ve decided to read all the books listed and you can follow along on sophsbookclub @ IG
"My Brilliant Friend" is a series of novels by Elena Ferrante chronicling the lifelong friendship between Elena Greco and Lila Cerullo in post-war Naples. The series is renowned for its authenticity, delving into the complexities of female friendship and the harsh realities of life in Naples with raw honesty.
In the show, reading and books play a significant role, as they serve as a means of escape, education, and empowerment for the characters. Through the books referenced in the series, viewers gain insight into the characters' inner worlds, their aspirations, and their struggles. Reading becomes a powerful tool for self-discovery and personal growth, reflecting the transformative nature of literature in real life. As you read through the books referenced in the series, you'll understand the profound impact that literature can have on shaping individuals and their relationships, making the series all the more immersive and enriching.
Here are all the books mentioned in the series:
Moby-Dick - Herman Melville:
A man's obsessive quest for revenge against the elusive white whale, Moby Dick.Little Women - Louisa May Alcott:
Coming-of-age tale following the lives of four sisters during the Civil War era.Great Expectations - Charles Dickens:
Orphan Pip's journey of self-discovery, societal expectations, and unrequited love.Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoevsky:
Psychological exploration of a young man's descent into crime and guilt.Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy:
Tragic love story entwined with societal critique in 19th century Russia.Three Men in a Boat - Jerome K. Jerome:
Humorous account of three friends' misadventures during a boating trip on the Thames.Voyages Round the World - Edmund Fanning:
Chronicles of circumnavigation voyages by an American explorer.A Gentleman of Courage: "A Novel of the Wilderness - James Oliver Curwood:
Adventure tale of courage and survival in the wilderness.
The Aeneid - Virgil:
Epic poem recounting the journey of Aeneas, a Trojan hero, and the founding of Rome.Orlando Furioso - Ludovico Ariosto:
Italian epic poem blending chivalric romance, magic, and adventure.
The Brothers Karamazov - Fyodor Dostoyevsky:
Complex exploration of faith, morality, and family dynamics through the lives of the Karamazov brothers.
Bel-ami/Dear Friend - Guy de Maupassant:
Ambitious journalist rises to power through manipulation and seduction.
The Time of Indifference - Alberto Moravia:
Portrait of a dysfunctional bourgeois family in fascist Italy.
Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert:
Story of Emma Bovary's pursuit of romantic fulfillment and subsequent downfall.
Discourse on the Origin of Inequality - Jean Jacques Rousseau:
Philosophical inquiry into the nature and origins of social inequality.
Being and Time - Martin Heidegger:
Exploration of ontology, existence, and the nature of being.
Humiliated and Insulted - Fyodor Dostoevsky:
Tragic love story entwined with themes of humiliation and redemption.
The Idea of Nation (1961) - Federico Chabod:
Historical examination of the concept of nationhood.
Invention of Liberty 1700-1789 - Jean Starobinski:
Study of the intellectual origins of liberty in the 18th century.
Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality - Sigmund Freud:
Seminal work on psychoanalytic theory and human sexuality.
Bruges-la-Morte/The Dead City of Bruges - Georges Rodenbach:
Symbolic novel exploring grief, obsession, and the city of Bruges.
Children of the Ashes: The People of Hiroshima, the Story of a Rebirth - Robert Jungk:
Account of the aftermath of the Hiroshima atomic bombing and the city's reconstruction.
The Complete Dramatic Works of Samuel Beckett - Samuel Beckett:
Collection of plays by the renowned absurdist playwright.
History of the City of Rome in the Middle Ages - Ferdinand Gregorovius:
Historical study of medieval Rome's political and cultural evolution.
The Blue Fairy Book - Andrew Lang:
Collection of fairy tales from various cultures, retold for children.
One, No One and One Hundred Thousand - Luigi Pirandello:
Philosophical novel exploring the nature of identity and perception.
Lettere - Simone De Bernardin:
Collection of letters written by Simone De Bernardin.Sputiamo su Hegel. La donna clitoridea e la donna vaginale - Carla Lonzi:
Feminist essay critiquing Hegelian philosophy and exploring female sexuality.
De Reditu Suo/A Voyage Home to Gaul - Rutilius Namatianus:
Latin poem recounting the author's journey from Rome back to Gaul.