• L'amica geniale

  • Libro primo
  • By: Elena Ferrante
  • Narrated by: Anna Bonaiuto
  • Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (321 ratings)

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L'amica geniale  By  cover art

L'amica geniale

By: Elena Ferrante
Narrated by: Anna Bonaiuto
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Publisher's summary

Lila è scomparsa. Esagerata, come sempre, ha cancellato ogni traccia. Ed Elena, l'amica di tutta la vita, inizia a raccontare la storia del legame viscerale che le ha unite per sei decenni. Tra inconfessata rivalità e profondo affidamento, la ragazzina geniale e ribelle e l'amica studiosa attraversano gli anni dell'adolescenza, sullo sfondo di un rione della Napoli anni Cinquanta ritratta nella sua cruda epicità.

Prima parte della tetralogia "L'amica geniale".
©2011 Edizioni e/o (P)2015 Emons Italia srl

What listeners say about L'amica geniale

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Mi ha convinto. Appassionante.

La bravissima Anna Bonaiuto ci prende per mano e conduce nel mondo vischioso e un po' magico del rione. Personaggi vivi e sgargianti, ricreati dal ricordo della protagonista che rivede la sua infanzia ed adolescenza con gli occhi del presente. Ben scritto e benissimo raccontato.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A story of friendship, female vulnerability, power and choices. A story of poverty, despair and dreams.

Couldn’t put this book down. The terribly tough environment of the “rione Napolitano” is described wonderfully through what at times seem like banal moments yet filled with meaning, at times using images of striking power. The story is fluid and it takes you from collective despair to personal reflections, from glimpses of possible optimism to the darkest confirmations. The violence and misery of this part of the city without love has an enormous impact on her dwellers that seem to be lost, where even geniality gets sucked in by a huge machine that appears to crush small and big dreams. Survival and advantage prevails over social cooperation and love. The friendship central to the story is a powerful study of female roles and vulnerability, also of power and choices. To have been able to listen to this great audio version was definitely a plus, the narrator does such a great job transporting the listener to those Napoli streets.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Pleasant but overrated

The story did not grab me nor surprise me. The style was not particularly original. The performance was really good, including the neapolitan accent.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Comoiacente, fastidioso

Would you try another book from Elena Ferrante and/or Anna Bonaiuto?

Mai più'. Non sono riuscita finire questo.

What was most disappointing about Elena Ferrante’s story?

Concetti ripetuti all' infinito, noioso, imbarazzante, povero. Mai più'.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Anna Bonaiuto?

a

What character would you cut from L'amica geniale?

b

Any additional comments?

c

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Raw and touching

What an unique and beautiful book. Slow to unravel, spanning 10 years, the story of Lena and Lila is a raw, unfiltered depiction of friendship, despair, poverty and ambition. The narrator was incredible abd I higly recommend the Italian version of the audiobook.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Mi è piaciuto moltissimo

Mi è piaciuto moltissimo. Io sono messicana, ma la mia famiglia paterna era italiana. Questo libro mi ha fatto ricordare mio padre e pensare alle esperienze dei suoi genitori. È bellissimo ascoltare una storia di due donne immerse nella storia del suo rione, della sua città e del suo paese. Mi dispiace, però, tutta quella violenza che vivono le due amiche e le altre donne del racconto.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Reading (translation)and Listening m

The NYTIMES review led me to the book. As I studied Italian I decided to listen to the audiobook.
The translation is excellent and I enjoyed also listening to the narrator who is also excellent.
I’ve recommended the audio to my brother who lives in São Paulo, Brazil
A large population there is of Italian origin. Now I will look for more Italian audiobooks. Thanks!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A passionate, intelligent, exciting book

A truly genuine, well written book. Could not put it down. Loved every bit of it.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Seems like a enjoyable soap opera

This book is polarizing. It’s love or hate, no mid point. I loved it. Reminded me of Isabel Allende.

It’s a book about feelings, sorority, chauvinism and hope. It’s slow paced and simple, keep this in mind. No huge plot or twists anywhere.

Looking forward to read the next one on the tetralogy.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful reading

La narratrice ha fatto un lavoro bellissimo. Non credo che saresti tanto entusiasmata a finire il libro in 3 giorni soli avessi dovuto leggerlo da me. Ferrante trasmette emozioni in modo facile e divertente.

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