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A review by stuckinafictionaluniverse
Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta
2.0
’’There’s no denying that Melina Marchetta is a literary goddess, but Looking for Alibrandi just isn’t that good.
- Every Marchetta fan who read her debut novel after being blown away by her other book(s).
This book was nowhere near as amazing as the author's other works, but I didn't expect it to be either. Marchetta's writing and characterization has gotten a lot better over the years, and gone from average to stunning.
Family relationships: B
I really liked the relationships in the Alibrandi family, especially the one between Josie and her mother.
The women in Josephine's life are all stubborn, outspoken and confident. There's tough love, many fights and misunderstanding between them. But at the end of the day, the family dynamics are great and make the characters likable.
Romance: E-
I severely disliked the romance in this book. All the couple did was fight, and they often seemed to hate each other. Yet the second Josie was away from Jacob, he was the most important person in her life!
Too much angst and not enough communication.
Dickhead love interest: F
My least part of the book was Jacob Coote, who I wanted to throw a sandwich at.
Jacob Coote is a despicable love interest, with serious mood swings. He barely has any personality, treats Josie like a dirtbag and then comes begging for her forgiveness. To be fair, Josephine is awful toward him, too, but at least she was a well-rounded characters and had her understandable reasons.
Jacob was nothing but annoying and dumb.
'Cause you're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down
He blames her for everything, tries to push her into sex and knows just what to say to hurt her.
You know something? I had no hassles in my life before I met you. Now everywhere I turn I face brick wall. I’m always giving you time. I can’t sleep with you because you need time. I can’t meet your grandmother because you need time. What the fuck are you waiting for?’'
I hereby declare Jacob Coote a prick.
Despite all that, their relationship was surprisingly realistic, albeit irritating. It was first love, and it was silly and frustrating and naive. Then again, I bet we all have or will be with a person who is a complete asshole, but we are too blind to see it in the moment. I think when you first fall in love, you're not falling for the person, but the idea of being in love.
Allow me to sneak in a quote from my recent read - [b:Black Heart|8884616|Black Heart (Curse Workers, #3)|Holly Black|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1418591869s/8884616.jpg|13760521] - that I think applies to this book:
“When we fall that first time, we’re not really in love with the girl. We’re in love with being in love. We’ve got no idea what she’s really about—or what she’s capable of. We’re in love with our idea of her and of who we become around her. We’re idiots.”
So, bonus points to Marchetta for adding a realistic, yet very flawed romance.
I just wish Jacob had been less one-dimensional and not tried to gain sympathy from the reader way too late in the book. He was just there so the MC could learn a lesson.
Writing and plot: D
It’s rather messy, the plot. It bounces between family relations, boy crushes and finding yourself. It was difficult to stay interested in either of those things.
Nationality and belonging is a big part of Looking for Alibrandi. Josephine is Italian, and has lived in Australia her whole life. Her classmates sometimes tease her for not being like them, making her question who she really is.
I liked the take on this topic and wish that storyline had been more focused on than the romance.
Sadly, the writing is simple and nothing special. It read like any other forgettable contemporary, to my great disappointment.
Final verdict:
You can tell that this book is published a decade before Saving Francesca (the fantastic novel that I constantly rave about). I think Marchetta hadn’t discovered her strengths just yet - strong characterization with flawed individuals and quote-worthy writing, so they all feel underdeveloped. Put that next to the slow pacing and less than stellar characters, and you have an underwhelming, generic book.
Please try [b:Saving Francesca|82434|Saving Francesca|Melina Marchetta|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327865374s/82434.jpg|18042740] or [b:On the Jellicoe Road|1162022|On the Jellicoe Road|Melina Marchetta|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1212708945s/1162022.jpg|6479100] instead. The first is a whirlwind of emotions and focuses more on friendships rather than family issues. It's hard to describe the latter, but it is truly special and beautiful.
When going through Marchetta's work, this is like a snack in between meals - rather light and underwhelming. Just something to quickly pick up while you wait for the exquisite dinner you're about to have. Not necessary, unless you're really craving something from the literary goddess, who is much less goddess-like here.
If that's the case, prepare to have a bitter snack that's probably expired.
- Every Marchetta fan who read her debut novel after being blown away by her other book(s).
This book was nowhere near as amazing as the author's other works, but I didn't expect it to be either. Marchetta's writing and characterization has gotten a lot better over the years, and gone from average to stunning.
Family relationships: B
I really liked the relationships in the Alibrandi family, especially the one between Josie and her mother.
The women in Josephine's life are all stubborn, outspoken and confident. There's tough love, many fights and misunderstanding between them. But at the end of the day, the family dynamics are great and make the characters likable.
Romance: E-
I severely disliked the romance in this book. All the couple did was fight, and they often seemed to hate each other. Yet the second Josie was away from Jacob, he was the most important person in her life!
Too much angst and not enough communication.
Dickhead love interest: F
My least part of the book was Jacob Coote, who I wanted to throw a sandwich at.
Jacob Coote is a despicable love interest, with serious mood swings. He barely has any personality, treats Josie like a dirtbag and then comes begging for her forgiveness. To be fair, Josephine is awful toward him, too, but at least she was a well-rounded characters and had her understandable reasons.
Jacob was nothing but annoying and dumb.
'Cause you're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down
He blames her for everything, tries to push her into sex and knows just what to say to hurt her.
You know something? I had no hassles in my life before I met you. Now everywhere I turn I face brick wall. I’m always giving you time. I can’t sleep with you because you need time. I can’t meet your grandmother because you need time. What the fuck are you waiting for?’'
I hereby declare Jacob Coote a prick.
Despite all that, their relationship was surprisingly realistic, albeit irritating. It was first love, and it was silly and frustrating and naive. Then again, I bet we all have or will be with a person who is a complete asshole, but we are too blind to see it in the moment. I think when you first fall in love, you're not falling for the person, but the idea of being in love.
Allow me to sneak in a quote from my recent read - [b:Black Heart|8884616|Black Heart (Curse Workers, #3)|Holly Black|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1418591869s/8884616.jpg|13760521] - that I think applies to this book:
“When we fall that first time, we’re not really in love with the girl. We’re in love with being in love. We’ve got no idea what she’s really about—or what she’s capable of. We’re in love with our idea of her and of who we become around her. We’re idiots.”
So, bonus points to Marchetta for adding a realistic, yet very flawed romance.
I just wish Jacob had been less one-dimensional and not tried to gain sympathy from the reader way too late in the book. He was just there so the MC could learn a lesson.
Writing and plot: D
It’s rather messy, the plot. It bounces between family relations, boy crushes and finding yourself. It was difficult to stay interested in either of those things.
Nationality and belonging is a big part of Looking for Alibrandi. Josephine is Italian, and has lived in Australia her whole life. Her classmates sometimes tease her for not being like them, making her question who she really is.
I liked the take on this topic and wish that storyline had been more focused on than the romance.
Sadly, the writing is simple and nothing special. It read like any other forgettable contemporary, to my great disappointment.
Final verdict:
You can tell that this book is published a decade before Saving Francesca (the fantastic novel that I constantly rave about). I think Marchetta hadn’t discovered her strengths just yet - strong characterization with flawed individuals and quote-worthy writing, so they all feel underdeveloped. Put that next to the slow pacing and less than stellar characters, and you have an underwhelming, generic book.
Please try [b:Saving Francesca|82434|Saving Francesca|Melina Marchetta|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327865374s/82434.jpg|18042740] or [b:On the Jellicoe Road|1162022|On the Jellicoe Road|Melina Marchetta|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1212708945s/1162022.jpg|6479100] instead. The first is a whirlwind of emotions and focuses more on friendships rather than family issues. It's hard to describe the latter, but it is truly special and beautiful.
When going through Marchetta's work, this is like a snack in between meals - rather light and underwhelming. Just something to quickly pick up while you wait for the exquisite dinner you're about to have. Not necessary, unless you're really craving something from the literary goddess, who is much less goddess-like here.
If that's the case, prepare to have a bitter snack that's probably expired.