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pau0704's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
4.25
I came across this book in a Walmart shelf and I immediately felt called by its name. Didn't read it until a year later and that was a mistake.
I loved this book. I must say, at the beginning I felt weirded out by it, just a little, her infancy and teenage years were something. But as soon as we reached the 20's more specifically the 25's I started to adore this book (might have something to do with the fact that I was turning 25 when I reached the part when she's 25), I started to feel so related with this book at that part, so understood. Since reading it I have done nothing but recommend this book. Loved the memoir, I'll be reading more of those hoping to find something like this again. Some chapters are so funny, and some are so chaotic, and there's a couple that are so sad, I just enjoyed this book so much overall that I finished it in less than a week. Please read this book, you won't regret it (most likely)
I loved this book. I must say, at the beginning I felt weirded out by it, just a little, her infancy and teenage years were something. But as soon as we reached the 20's more specifically the 25's I started to adore this book (might have something to do with the fact that I was turning 25 when I reached the part when she's 25), I started to feel so related with this book at that part, so understood. Since reading it I have done nothing but recommend this book. Loved the memoir, I'll be reading more of those hoping to find something like this again. Some chapters are so funny, and some are so chaotic, and there's a couple that are so sad, I just enjoyed this book so much overall that I finished it in less than a week. Please read this book, you won't regret it (most likely)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Grief, Terminal illness, and Child death
gema_blondeandbookworm's review against another edition
2.0
Antes de reseñar Todo lo que sé sobre fiestas, citas, amigos, trabajo, vida, el amor de Dolly Alderton, tengo que preguntaros algo: ¿alguna vez habéis terminado un libro porque sí? Pues justo eso es lo que me pasó con este: entré en modo "no dejar libro sin leer" y no veais lo que me costó terminarlo... Creo que se me hizo tan cuesta arriba porque no conseguí empatizar o identificarme con la protagonista -y os lo dice una que se identifica con todo tipo de personajes: desde el gruñón Carl de Up a Agnes, la pequeñaja de Gru, mi villano favorito.
La maquinaria de marketing de Planeta (editorial del libro) presenta a Alderton como "la Bridget Jones de la era millenial" y también dice que esta novela es "salvajemente divertida". Y, ¿qué queréis que os diga? Me esperaba mucho más. No sé si es cosa de mi INFJismo o que entre la autora y yo hay, creo, seis años de gap generacional, pero me hizo poca gracia.
Además, me parece algo pretencioso escribir unas memorias cuando ni te acercas a los 35 pero, ¿qué sabré yo?
Y aunque tengo claro que no volveré a leer este libro , os reconoceré que algunas de las peripecias de la Dolly adolescente me hicieron sonreír (sí, chat de Messenger y ruidosos del módem del Pleistoceno va por vosotros
La maquinaria de marketing de Planeta (editorial del libro) presenta a Alderton como "la Bridget Jones de la era millenial" y también dice que esta novela es "salvajemente divertida". Y, ¿qué queréis que os diga? Me esperaba mucho más. No sé si es cosa de mi INFJismo o que entre la autora y yo hay, creo, seis años de gap generacional, pero me hizo poca gracia.
Además, me parece algo pretencioso escribir unas memorias cuando ni te acercas a los 35 pero, ¿qué sabré yo?
Y aunque tengo claro que no volveré a leer este libro , os reconoceré que algunas de las peripecias de la Dolly adolescente me hicieron sonreír (sí, chat de Messenger y ruidosos del módem del Pleistoceno va por vosotros
johoansson's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
5.0
ciarajallen's review against another edition
5.0
this book is funny and warm and brilliant and tender and i loved every second of it. i ordered my own copy halfway through because i just knew i needed to scribble in the margins.
dembury's review against another edition
3.0
There are chunks of material in Alderton's writings and thoughts that I definitely agree with, and found refreshing to have explicitly spelled out and explored; primarily, her viewpoints on how valuable her friendships with other girls are. The keystone quote that really sums this up is "Nearly everything I know about love, I've learned in my long-term friendships with women." I love that Alderton emphasizes that over and over again. She also isn't afraid to poke and explore at various ideas like how much people in a new romantic relationship with someone shove their friendships to the side, or just how presumptuous baby showers can be (the line of people "demand[ing] money and time from people to celebrate [their] own personal life choices" is so accurate). It's so very clear Alderton cares deeply for her loving friendships and wants to encourage readers to do the same! I think that if readers come away with anything from this book, it will be to tend to and value your friendships, because those are the people who you can build a real, true community and family with.
On the other hand, this book just DRIPS with privilege and heteronormativity. Alderton is a 30-something woman who is largely reflecting on her teens and 20s, which were filled with drinking, partying, careless spending, European holidays, working jobs that allow an unusual level of creative freedom, etc. and this results in a book that is, on manyyy levels, just not relatable whatsoever. At times she genuinely sounds like a caricature of a British party woman that might pop up on an SNL skit or an episode of "Skins". She describes so many drunken nights that they begin to blur together, and each consecutive one offers less than the one before, which made me want to start skipping chapters.
This book was also just extremely hetero. Even when Alderton is emphasizing female friendship and not changing yourself for any man, there is a steady and constant undercurrent that runs through the entire work that still places romance with a man as highly desirable and finding a partner, even if it happens later in life, still needs to happen at some point. It just seems so antithetical to everything she comes to conclusions about time and time again, and by the end of the book the conclusion sort of peters out to this weird agreement of "Yes, love yourself and cherish your female friendships because they're the most precious love you will have, oh and also you will get a boyfriend one day who will love you even if you're silly and don't shave and have a wild past!"
All in all, there are some really heartfelt and valuable writing in "Everything I Know About Love", but it's a little like mining: you're gonna have to dig and pick through some rubble to get to the shiny bits (I actually don't know how mining works, so just picture the mining scene in "Snow White"). I'm curious to maybe read Alderton's latest work and see how her writing and voice have developed since this book came out.
On the other hand, this book just DRIPS with privilege and heteronormativity. Alderton is a 30-something woman who is largely reflecting on her teens and 20s, which were filled with drinking, partying, careless spending, European holidays, working jobs that allow an unusual level of creative freedom, etc. and this results in a book that is, on manyyy levels, just not relatable whatsoever. At times she genuinely sounds like a caricature of a British party woman that might pop up on an SNL skit or an episode of "Skins". She describes so many drunken nights that they begin to blur together, and each consecutive one offers less than the one before, which made me want to start skipping chapters.
This book was also just extremely hetero. Even when Alderton is emphasizing female friendship and not changing yourself for any man, there is a steady and constant undercurrent that runs through the entire work that still places romance with a man as highly desirable and finding a partner, even if it happens later in life, still needs to happen at some point. It just seems so antithetical to everything she comes to conclusions about time and time again, and by the end of the book the conclusion sort of peters out to this weird agreement of "Yes, love yourself and cherish your female friendships because they're the most precious love you will have, oh and also you will get a boyfriend one day who will love you even if you're silly and don't shave and have a wild past!"
All in all, there are some really heartfelt and valuable writing in "Everything I Know About Love", but it's a little like mining: you're gonna have to dig and pick through some rubble to get to the shiny bits (I actually don't know how mining works, so just picture the mining scene in "Snow White"). I'm curious to maybe read Alderton's latest work and see how her writing and voice have developed since this book came out.