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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
This book reads as if it was written by someone for whom English is a second language. Or like it was written in another language first and then poorly translated. I am confused. I love all her other work. I know this is a first novel, but what's with all the accolades? The stilted dialogue had me rolling my eyes on practically every page.
Dated certainly, but she's captured the difficulty of 17 so wonderfully that maybe even today's teenagers might still relate???
Josephine Alibrandi, our title calendar, is 17-years-old and experiencing lots of life changes. And her final year of high school she makes contact with her father whom she has never met, falls in love, and starts to wrap her head around her own cultural identity.
Overall this was a pretty solid read, especially considering that I was really in the mood for a contemporary novel. Recently I had been lamenting the fact that YA novels, especially fantasy ones, had started to not hit the spot for me anymore. However, I'm happy to report that this book really hit my YA contemporary romance craving. Something about it was just so raw and real.
The way it was written is from Josephine's POV and although it wasn't laid out in diary entries, that's how I chose to read it because everything felt super personal. It also helped Josephine's own personality go down a bit smoother, as she can be quite annoying but in a way that made her seem like a real life person. Whilst we're here talking about characters, I love seeing the presence of a grandmother figure who is still dealing with her own generation's upbringing and trying to wrap her head around the new generation's way of life aka not living beneath a traditional and patriarchal model.
Also, this might be a slight spoiler but considering this book is over 20 years old now I figure it's okay, the romance and this was refreshing. It wasn't one of those totally cliched endings to a teenage romance. Sure there's definitely still cliches - you have the bad boy vibe with the motorbike and all of that, but I like to seeing a teenage relationship that wasn't perfect.
I last note before this turns into a full-blown essay, this is a book focusing on the Italian experience in Australia. As such I do think it is patent tonight that there isn't much The diversity in this novel as the primary to ethnicities we see are Italian and European Australians. Whilst this isn't necessarily a bad thing I do think it shows the times a little bit, but I've also learned that Australians do not seem to treasure indigenous aboriginal culture as much as New Zealand prides themselves on indigenous Maori culture. This is obviously talking in generalizations and I am still new to the country so take what you will from this observation.
I recommend this novel for readers who want a slice of life kind of contemporary novel which might enlighten you to help people of a different ethnicity live and balance their cultures, as well as a novel which has some cliches but also breaks some cliches. Triggers include a huge warning for suicide, self harm, and depression.
Overall this was a pretty solid read, especially considering that I was really in the mood for a contemporary novel. Recently I had been lamenting the fact that YA novels, especially fantasy ones, had started to not hit the spot for me anymore. However, I'm happy to report that this book really hit my YA contemporary romance craving. Something about it was just so raw and real.
The way it was written is from Josephine's POV and although it wasn't laid out in diary entries, that's how I chose to read it because everything felt super personal. It also helped Josephine's own personality go down a bit smoother, as she can be quite annoying but in a way that made her seem like a real life person. Whilst we're here talking about characters, I love seeing the presence of a grandmother figure who is still dealing with her own generation's upbringing and trying to wrap her head around the new generation's way of life aka not living beneath a traditional and patriarchal model.
Also, this might be a slight spoiler but considering this book is over 20 years old now I figure it's okay, the romance and this was refreshing. It wasn't one of those totally cliched endings to a teenage romance. Sure there's definitely still cliches - you have the bad boy vibe with the motorbike and all of that, but I like to seeing a teenage relationship that wasn't perfect.
I last note before this turns into a full-blown essay, this is a book focusing on the Italian experience in Australia. As such I do think it is patent tonight that there isn't much The diversity in this novel as the primary to ethnicities we see are Italian and European Australians. Whilst this isn't necessarily a bad thing I do think it shows the times a little bit, but I've also learned that Australians do not seem to treasure indigenous aboriginal culture as much as New Zealand prides themselves on indigenous Maori culture. This is obviously talking in generalizations and I am still new to the country so take what you will from this observation.
I recommend this novel for readers who want a slice of life kind of contemporary novel which might enlighten you to help people of a different ethnicity live and balance their cultures, as well as a novel which has some cliches but also breaks some cliches. Triggers include a huge warning for suicide, self harm, and depression.
I haven't read this book since I left school but it still has an impact, cutting right into the essence of that period of just leaving school and all the changes and decisions that come with it. I still love it!
Can you even say that you're a person who grew up in the 90s in Australia, if you didn't read Looking for Alibrandi in school!!!
Beautiful read, i think any teen can connect with who felt different, showcasing growing up in Australia, while dealing with the dramas of school.
Beautiful read, i think any teen can connect with who felt different, showcasing growing up in Australia, while dealing with the dramas of school.
One of my all time favourite contemporary novels, I adore Marchetta’s Looking For Alibrandi with all my heart! 5/5 stars!
Reread @ July 2023:
I have four copies of Looking for Alibrandi in different covers, yet this is the first time I have a reread of this since 2016. Bought the 30th anniversary edition when I was in Gold Coast so here we are.
Having read her more recent works, this is definitely a first book of Marchetta. Not saying this one's bad. Looking for Alibrandi is amazing and it hits right in the feels just like her other books that I love so much. It's just that this one slightly lacks the zing that she usually has, though only slightly bcs her characters are usually way more snarky and witty than Josie.
Anyways I just had a watch of the film adaptation and [in Francesca Spinelli's voice] I'm devastated!
I know Marchetta wrote the screenplay and she has a say of what goes on in the film, but I just dont understand why she completely removed Poison Ivy and replaced her with bitchy Carla. I was waiting for that scene in the toilet where Josie and Ivy hugged and cried after the John-event but i was left disappointed. Also, the timeline in the book is perfectly written. Why the heck did they change the timeline????????
I have four copies of Looking for Alibrandi in different covers, yet this is the first time I have a reread of this since 2016. Bought the 30th anniversary edition when I was in Gold Coast so here we are.
Having read her more recent works, this is definitely a first book of Marchetta. Not saying this one's bad. Looking for Alibrandi is amazing and it hits right in the feels just like her other books that I love so much. It's just that this one slightly lacks the zing that she usually has, though only slightly bcs her characters are usually way more snarky and witty than Josie.
Anyways I just had a watch of the film adaptation and [in Francesca Spinelli's voice] I'm devastated!
I know Marchetta wrote the screenplay and she has a say of what goes on in the film, but I just dont understand why she completely removed Poison Ivy and replaced her with bitchy Carla. I was waiting for that scene in the toilet where Josie and Ivy hugged and cried after the John-event but i was left disappointed. Also, the timeline in the book is perfectly written. Why the heck did they change the timeline????????
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I've given every other Melina Marchetta book I've read 5 stars (OK, I only gave 4 stars to Finnikin, but really, it should have been 5). But Alibrandi, her first novel, just wasn't that engaging. I didn't like Jacob at ALL. Josie was supremely annoying most of the time. The narrative flow just didn't work for a large chunk of the novel. But she goes on to write Francesca and Will, Taylor and Jonah, and Finnikin and Isaboe, so I'll let it pass.
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad