Scan barcode
A review by kris_mccracken
Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta
3.0
"Looking for Alibrandi" captures the jagged, chaotic journey of adolescence as Josephine Alibrandi, an Italian-Australian teenager, navigates the complexities of family expectations, cultural identity, and first love; Marchetta's deft storytelling lays bare the messy, often contradictory reality of being young.
The narrative moves at a clip and delivers satisfying revelations throughout, particularly in its exploration of Josie's relationships with her estranged father and her formidable nonna. The layered history of three generations of women unfurls gracefully, revealing secrets that shape and reshape Josie's understanding of herself. However, while the story offers several poignant moments, the character development feels notably uneven. Josephine and her mother emerge as richly textured individuals, but her friend group remains frustratingly two-dimensional, never quite achieving the lived-in authenticity the story deserves.
Josephine is a compelling protagonist with the requisite teenage volatility. It's a portrayal that captures the mercurial essence of youth without veering into cliché.
Where the novel occasionally falters is in its handling of broader social themes, which sometimes feel touched upon rather than fully interrogated. There's a lingering sense that certain issues, such as class prejudice and ethnic identity, could have been explored with more nuance and depth. Still, the book's spirit remains invigorating and resonates beyond its limitations, offering a window into the formative experiences that shape us all.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The narrative moves at a clip and delivers satisfying revelations throughout, particularly in its exploration of Josie's relationships with her estranged father and her formidable nonna. The layered history of three generations of women unfurls gracefully, revealing secrets that shape and reshape Josie's understanding of herself. However, while the story offers several poignant moments, the character development feels notably uneven. Josephine and her mother emerge as richly textured individuals, but her friend group remains frustratingly two-dimensional, never quite achieving the lived-in authenticity the story deserves.
Josephine is a compelling protagonist with the requisite teenage volatility. It's a portrayal that captures the mercurial essence of youth without veering into cliché.
Where the novel occasionally falters is in its handling of broader social themes, which sometimes feel touched upon rather than fully interrogated. There's a lingering sense that certain issues, such as class prejudice and ethnic identity, could have been explored with more nuance and depth. Still, the book's spirit remains invigorating and resonates beyond its limitations, offering a window into the formative experiences that shape us all.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐