May 11, 2021

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

I am not a professional book critic, and thank the gods for that, because books like Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend make me feel like I’m really not all that good at it. This is one of those times I want to say, “Just go read it,” and peace out.

But… I’ll try.

It’s the prose. It’s all those commas. It’s Naples. It’s Lila and Lenù. It’s the mystery of Elena Ferrante’s true identity, and how many people have tried very, very hard to figure out who really wrote these books.

I loved it. I love how immersed I am in this world. I love how I feel when I’m in it; I’ve stayed up past my bedtime every night this week because I’ve been so reluctant to leave it. I’m already into Book 2 of the Neapolitan Series and will most definitely finish all 4, probably in the next couple of months.

This is also a friendly reminder not to forget about all those great books you have sitting on your to-read list. 👀 📚 🤓

Samantha Pollack

About Sam

Samantha Pollack is a Copywriter & Creative Director who works with ethically minded, mission driven businesses who are actively trying to reshape our culture (and possibly tear down the patriarchy). She’s also the founder of The Highly Sensitive Business Owner, a 12-week online program that helps HSPs & neurodivergent business owners create healthier, more sustainable systems in their work.

Sam also writes about feminism, privilege, pop culture, entrepreneurship, the creative process, and whatever else is on her mind. She currently lives in Asheville, NC.

Emails for cult thought leaders.

(Personality included.)

Want to learn how to craft emails that inspire action and engagement WITHOUT the “tried and true” (cough: patriarchal) norms we’ve all been taught?

I’m doing it, and I can show you how to do it, too.

(But sometimes, I also like to write about the books I’m reading, or the creative process, or the entrepreneurial experience, or why I hate Steve Jobs, or how I met my BFF. I’ll send you emails like that, too.)

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