Originally published at The Catholic Thing
In the New York Time’s list of “The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century,” the critics placed Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend, and by extension the next three books of her Neapolitan series, at the very top. In their estimation, these books represent the best literature of the last quarter century.
Even for those who have read the series (or watched the TV adaptation), it’s not exactly clear why this is the number one book of our day. In style and substance, Ferrante hardly breaks new ground. The most that one could say is that her characters and setting are well developed and true to life. Her themes are also familiar, as she charts the challenges of growing up, maintaining relationships, thriving in a career, and coming to terms with one’s identity. Again, her depictions and reflections on these ideas are realistic and clear, but not necessarily profound.
Even by the standards of today’s critics, who generally seek out manifestations of the woke Zeitgeist, the novels fall short: the whole cast of characters are white, mostly heterosexual Italians. It’s true that socialism and feminism are discussed throughout the series, but the writer’s commitment to reality effectively tarnishes these fashionable
