MY BRILLIANT FRIEND

by Elena Ferrante, Penguin/Random House.

This is the first of Ferrante’s trilogy that charts the lives of two friends. Ferrante’s depiction of friendship has been compared to that of Dickens, her attention to detail and nuance is very impressive. Hardly anything is known about Ferrante herself; there are thoughts that her name may in fact be a nom de plume, which adds a layer of intrigue. This is also a lovely gift for one’s own brilliant friends.