Student Blogs

This was a long read, phew, but a very interesting one, regardless, I must say. At times, I did need to keep the book down, then get back to it due to the constant tension present. I definitely doubted if I would enjoy this novel, but it did take me by surprise (in a good […] read full post >>

I mean, being from Ischia, I was already pretty biased towards loving My Brilliant Friend, but I really enjoyed this one. Though one of the longer books we’ve read in this course, I felt completely pulled into the story; it felt more like a book that I would normally choose to read for fun than […] read full post >>

I really liked the book my Brilliant Friend, and from the very beginning I had a feeling that I was going to enjoy it. Something about the way the story started just felt more approachable compared to some of the other books we’ve read in this class. It did not feel overwhelming or confusing right […] read full post >>

This was the last book I’ve had to read for class, and I can honestly say this barely feels like homework anymore. I might even read the other books in this series. This blog was written on the beach, next to my bestest friends, with none of whom I have a relationship like Lenu and […] read full post >>

The novel for this weeek, ‘My Brilliant Friend’ left me wanting to know so much more about the stories of the two close friends, especially due to the surprising ending of the shoes and marcello. Starting off, I found the relationship between Lenu and Lila a little…unsettling. The entire dynamic of their relationship was how […] read full post >>

Okay wait let me be so real, my first reaction reading this was just like why does this already feel so intense for no reason? I went into it thinking it would be more of a nostalgic friendship story, but instead it starts with Lila disappearing and Lenù reacting in such a detached, almost irritated […] read full post >>

Oof that was an interesting read. I usually like books written from a woman’s perspective especially when they are about girlhood and the experience of female friendships etc. However, this was just a super messy friendship, which I guess is relatable up to a point, but at the same time I rather read something more […] read full post >>

I’m not sure where to begin with this one as well. I started every blog I’ve written with a line or two about how my struggle with reading as a habit it going so it feels right to do the same for the last blog I’m writing in this course. I feel like with every […] read full post >>

I really enjoyed reading My Brilliant Friend, it felt like such an easy book to understand, especially compared some of the books we’ve been reading. I was a little worried when I was reading the character index in the beginning. It just kept going and going. But once I started reading, it all made sense. I liked how Ferrante would... read full post >>

Faces in the Crowd by Valeria Luiselli centres on the life of a mother living in Mexico, who is reflecting on the period of her life spent in New York. As a homemaker, she finds her desire for self-expression and creativity constrained by her responsib... read full post >>

Faces in the Crowd by Valeria Luiselli centres on the life of a mother living in Mexico, who is reflecting on the period of her life spent in New York. As a homemaker, she finds her desire for self-expression and creativity constrained by her responsib... read full post >>

 Valeria Luiselli's  novel “faces in the crowd” kinda felt unsatisfactory and not because nothing happens, but because what happens keeps folding in on itself and made me a little confused reading it because she kept blurring the line between... read full post >>

 Valeria Luiselli's  novel “faces in the crowd” kinda felt unsatisfactory and not because nothing happens, but because what happens keeps folding in on itself and made me a little confused reading it because she kept blurring the line between... read full post >>

I do not really like this book. I mean, it is a very good book, but I am not particularly drawn to it. I like how the two girls struggle against the darkness with each other’s support, and also like how Ferrante portrays them in such a way, but at the same time, their complex […] read full post >>

Reading Faces in the Crowd was quite a mindf*ck at times and I now see why Jon described it as a ‘strange’ on the course website. I’d like to suggest that it also be described as a ‘comedy’ book because of the line: “shrimps are little-dicks” (28). Anyway, as we near the end of the semester, […] read full post >>