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A review by bibliorey
Good Material by Dolly Alderton
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
First read of 2024! I'm glad I decided to pick this one up to start the year with because Dolly Alderton simply never miss! She simply hits the spot every damn time! 🤍
It's so refreshing to read of a break up tale from the male's perspective as most of the reads I have by far devoured were of the female experience in dealing with break ups and heartaches. Andy's recollection of the first time he met Jen to their growing relationship leading to its end were filled with grief and longing and yet laced with witty humour and lively scenes surrounded by his cheery friends. Although it wasn't as stark, this tale was indeed a heartbreaking one filled with roller coaster of emotions.
Nothing in this world is ever as perfect as it seems, especially us humans. We're not the best of people. Sure, we can be. But along the way, wrongdoings, mistakes, will inevitably bound to happen to one or the other. Relationships were never supposed to be easy. It's a rocky path and the survival of it depends on whether or not the ones in the relationship are willing to work for it together. However, sometimes luck is not on our side and the rocky path ahead seems to be an unclimbable mountain. Andy and Jen were not the best of partners either. While Andy narrates almost most of the story speaking of how much it hurts that he was broken up with and by Jen, she too had a list of valid reasons to make the decision that she did. All these flaws and tribulations were so human and Alderton did such an exceptional job portraying it all through myriads of emotions in just the form of literature.
I personally think that her work caters so well to the 20 or 30-something readers who are still discovering themselves and searching for a purpose or a meaning to life that expands more than just love and relationships. I think at this age–now that I am 22–the people around me are more focusing on finding a love life or creating that love life as if their main priority is to simply belong to someone when like Jen, I personally have a higher aim to life that is more than just settling down. Sure, I've bugged my boyfriend about marriage tons of times and talk of our future and perhaps children just as Andy did, but life does not necessarily always work out the way you want it to be or in a way that you compare yours to others' be. This is the age of exploration. Sometimes a few Good Material(s) are not enough of a reason to bind yourself to someone 😉
This was quite the short read had I'd been able to read it in one sitting if I'm not busy enough of a woman that is, but nonetheless, it was a fun read that I looked forward to continuing while I had some breaks and even commuting to campus. As I said earlier, Dolly Alderton never misses! She has this brilliant writing and pacing that enchants even her loyal readers with every pages turned. Highly recommend this one to all! 💌
It's so refreshing to read of a break up tale from the male's perspective as most of the reads I have by far devoured were of the female experience in dealing with break ups and heartaches. Andy's recollection of the first time he met Jen to their growing relationship leading to its end were filled with grief and longing and yet laced with witty humour and lively scenes surrounded by his cheery friends. Although it wasn't as stark, this tale was indeed a heartbreaking one filled with roller coaster of emotions.
Nothing in this world is ever as perfect as it seems, especially us humans. We're not the best of people. Sure, we can be. But along the way, wrongdoings, mistakes, will inevitably bound to happen to one or the other. Relationships were never supposed to be easy. It's a rocky path and the survival of it depends on whether or not the ones in the relationship are willing to work for it together. However, sometimes luck is not on our side and the rocky path ahead seems to be an unclimbable mountain. Andy and Jen were not the best of partners either. While Andy narrates almost most of the story speaking of how much it hurts that he was broken up with and by Jen, she too had a list of valid reasons to make the decision that she did. All these flaws and tribulations were so human and Alderton did such an exceptional job portraying it all through myriads of emotions in just the form of literature.
I personally think that her work caters so well to the 20 or 30-something readers who are still discovering themselves and searching for a purpose or a meaning to life that expands more than just love and relationships. I think at this age–now that I am 22–the people around me are more focusing on finding a love life or creating that love life as if their main priority is to simply belong to someone when like Jen, I personally have a higher aim to life that is more than just settling down. Sure, I've bugged my boyfriend about marriage tons of times and talk of our future and perhaps children just as Andy did, but life does not necessarily always work out the way you want it to be or in a way that you compare yours to others' be. This is the age of exploration. Sometimes a few Good Material(s) are not enough of a reason to bind yourself to someone 😉
This was quite the short read had I'd been able to read it in one sitting if I'm not busy enough of a woman that is, but nonetheless, it was a fun read that I looked forward to continuing while I had some breaks and even commuting to campus. As I said earlier, Dolly Alderton never misses! She has this brilliant writing and pacing that enchants even her loyal readers with every pages turned. Highly recommend this one to all! 💌