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shareen17's review against another edition
3.0
What is good about this book is how the characters are very realistically flawed, while still being the kind of people you are routing for. This book is about an Italian-Australian girl in her last year of high school trying to figure out who she is, what she wants, and her relationships with her friends and family.
parpacifica's review against another edition
3.0
Looking for Alibrandi is the epitome of a 'coming-of-age' novel. It tackles many issues that teens face today such as cultural integration, identify, religion, careers, depression, and so on. Quite a beautiful novel. Josephine comes off a annoying to many but she has this youthful arrogance to her that we all had at her age. And I think the true winners in this book are the relationships. Josephine's relationship with her Nonna, and her Mama, her relationship with Micheal Andretti (her dad), her rough-yet-sweet relationship with Jacob Coote, her gentile one with John Barton. With Lee, Sera, and Anne.
SO MANY BEAUTIFUL RELATIONSHIPS!!!
Definitely recommending this:)
SO MANY BEAUTIFUL RELATIONSHIPS!!!
Definitely recommending this:)
stephxsu's review against another edition
4.0
At long last, I’ve picked up and finished my favorite author’s debut novel, which also happens to be the last book of hers that I read. It’s fascinating—and quite odd, to tell you the truth—to read her first book last: it’s like peeking at a great author’s first draft. Nevertheless, LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI was an enjoyable, if not spectacular, contemporary read featuring a feisty main character and a discussion of ethnic discrimination in Australia.
The great maturation of Melina Marchetta’s writing style over the past 20 years shows. Much of the character development in LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI takes place in the form of dialogue: Josie’s grandmother, in particular, talks a lot about their family’s history, and Josie is often at odds with her grandmother as to where they stand regarding their position as Italian Australians in Australian society. Sometimes the character development feels choppy, for Josie will be acting like an immature brat one day, and in the next chapter, she will talk about how she feels herself changing as she learns more and more. Um, from where does this growth naturally progress? I scratch my head in confusion.
The best part of LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI is probably Josie. In a genre where all too often female protagonists will be much blander than their authors intended for them to be, Josie is loud-mouthed, mean at times, unafraid to make her thoughts heard. She is very direct with the family members she disagrees with over various issues. Because of Josie’s opinionated point of view, readers are able to be immersed in a discussion over ethnic biases that existed in Australia at the time of this book’s writing, that may still exist today. Josie is unafraid to voice her complaint about how she is treated and thought of differently by her classmates. Sometimes this feels like too much telling and not enough showing, but it’s Melina Marchetta. Which means that even not at her fullest potential, she is still worth reading.
LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI may not have claimed my heart as Saving Francesca and Jellicoe Road have, but it’s still, I think, a must-read for Marchetta fans, who will be able to appreciate just how far their beloved author has come.
The great maturation of Melina Marchetta’s writing style over the past 20 years shows. Much of the character development in LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI takes place in the form of dialogue: Josie’s grandmother, in particular, talks a lot about their family’s history, and Josie is often at odds with her grandmother as to where they stand regarding their position as Italian Australians in Australian society. Sometimes the character development feels choppy, for Josie will be acting like an immature brat one day, and in the next chapter, she will talk about how she feels herself changing as she learns more and more. Um, from where does this growth naturally progress? I scratch my head in confusion.
The best part of LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI is probably Josie. In a genre where all too often female protagonists will be much blander than their authors intended for them to be, Josie is loud-mouthed, mean at times, unafraid to make her thoughts heard. She is very direct with the family members she disagrees with over various issues. Because of Josie’s opinionated point of view, readers are able to be immersed in a discussion over ethnic biases that existed in Australia at the time of this book’s writing, that may still exist today. Josie is unafraid to voice her complaint about how she is treated and thought of differently by her classmates. Sometimes this feels like too much telling and not enough showing, but it’s Melina Marchetta. Which means that even not at her fullest potential, she is still worth reading.
LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI may not have claimed my heart as Saving Francesca and Jellicoe Road have, but it’s still, I think, a must-read for Marchetta fans, who will be able to appreciate just how far their beloved author has come.
prada's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
christiana's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars kind of read. I like reading about Italian Catholics because I am Italian Catholic and I still love Melina Marchetta. She started as a very good writer and now she just blows my mind, so I enjoyed reading her first novel. What else can I say? It's Melina freaking Marchetta.
un1c0rn's review against another edition
3.0
Couldn't really connect with any of the characters, and the plot is uninteresting and weird.
kalliste's review against another edition
5.0
This book was somewhat life changing for me. Even though it was a year 12 english text and we had to dissect it like nothing else I was still able to enjoy it once the year was complete. So much so that I bought it once the school made me give it back - I did contemplate ways to steal it but no such luck, although it is apparently the most stolen book from Australian school libraries so I guess other people were better at stealing than me.
Looking for Alibrandi is the moving story of Josephine Alibrandi who is stuck in the middle of cultures. Not Italian enough for the Italian community and not Australian enough for the Australians, Josie feels lost within herself.
Throughout the book though Josie goes through new experiences and attempts to change her views on the world and gets an insight on how the world views her.
Well written and is very much a re-readable book (I must have read it 30+ times). Thoroughly enjoyable!
Looking for Alibrandi is the moving story of Josephine Alibrandi who is stuck in the middle of cultures. Not Italian enough for the Italian community and not Australian enough for the Australians, Josie feels lost within herself.
Throughout the book though Josie goes through new experiences and attempts to change her views on the world and gets an insight on how the world views her.
Well written and is very much a re-readable book (I must have read it 30+ times). Thoroughly enjoyable!
annereads222's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0