Dolly Alderton is a true star among book lovers, and the British author is one of the pioneers of contemporary romantic and entertaining literature. She has written ghoststhe Dear Dolly!The biographical series, which was also shown on BBC, All I know about love Novel. The author has recently published a new volume, the Hungarian translation of which was released on 21. Sazade Kiado.
the Good material (Good material) is Dolly Alderton's best novel yet,
All Dolly Alderton's novels are good.
The book twists the stereotypical approach, telling the story of a breakup from the point of view of Andy, a man in his thirties. Left there without any prior notice by his (ex) girlfriend, Jane, the hero-loving, anxiety-prone guy is at a loss. He tries his best to delve into the past to look for signs and clues, and to decipher why the girl with whom he seemed to have a harmonious and happy relationship has left.
Apparently. Because Jane, who is used to eternal isolation and independence, experiences her first serious relationship and being together in a completely different way, except that she does not really convey her feelings to her partner. Love here or there, the two parties are actually talking to each other constantly, both living in their little heads, but there is no common thinking.
In Andy, upon first reading, we do not recognize a whiny, overly sensitive person, but a strong, broken-hearted person who nevertheless awakens to emotional intelligence.
Anyone can empathize with Andy, anyone can identify with him, anyone can feel sorry for someone who was left by a woman.
You'd think we'd be telling him the truth along the way, that Andy was supposed to be, because “ugly, cruel” Jane replaced him with another man for no reason. We comfort ourselves with this belief until we get to Jane's turn. Although ninety percent of the story is written from Andy's point of view, the last few pages focus on the woman's thoughts.
This is when we realize that there are two sides to the coin, namely that Andy, according to others, tends to exaggerate. Jane, who bears the marks of avoidant attachment, reveals to the reader why she feels the need to end the relationship. Andy is seen in a different light, and a whole new picture develops in the reader after Jane’s characterization. Through this section, Alderton does not achieve that we develop a hatred for Andy and immediately side with Jane, but only that we can finally deal with the heroine’s feelings and actions instead of hers. Jane’s thoughts are presented to us as the key to the solution.
For those who find Andy's behavior too much, the final section may have a refreshing effect, and the beauty of the book lies precisely in the final scenes. Readers who are “left behind” can take comfort in Andy's words, while readers who are “left behind” can take comfort in Jane's words, while they can see into the other's head, and thus perhaps a little into themselves. The complexity of human feelings and existence can be read perfectly in Alderton's writing.
brilliantly composed
Although it presents the story through a male lens, the novel is actually a textbook example of the (mis)understanding of the female spirit. The author deals with everyday events, such as a love affair or a breakup, in a way that makes the reader cry and soothes them. He provides crutches for the female heart without being dry, professional, or even vulgar. He wraps thought-provoking, thoughtful advice, lessons, and messages in an easy-to-understand, fun, and humorous way.
Dolly Alderton is a master of the humorous tone: there is no shortage of funny comments, contemporary slang comments and snide comments, and not only the main characters, but also the supporting characters are interesting characters, and the stories of some of them are developed quite well.
It is common for supporting characters to outshine the protagonists, a Good materialHowever, everyone fits together perfectly. The lesser characters are at least as necessary to (understanding) the protagonists as the inner monologues of Andy or Jane, and the reader empathizes with them as well, as he sees them in their daily lives.
In terms of its structure and division, we can speak of a completely average novel that is chronologically advanced, sometimes spiced with time travel (i.e. flashbacks). It is a logically organized book, and the dated chapters place the events not only in place but also in time, which makes following Andy's misery much easier. The author changes his writing style several times throughout the book, inserting letters and chat messages into the text to break up the literary effect, making the story more realistic and more real.
Jane's appearance, the double point of view, that is, the point of view, puts the dot on the i and gives the novel a rounded ending.
The change in narrative comes as a pleasant surprise to the reader but much needed. It is impossible to put the book aside, there is something constantly happening in it, and makes you want to read it, although we do not expect anything else from Alderton. A realistic and youthful read, a real emotional roller coaster (in the positive sense), moreover, both sexes can find elements they like in it.
Dolly Alderton: Good stuff.
21st Century Publishing House, 2024
Translated by Eleonora Ács
351 pages
(Cover image: Kata Nemeth/Index)
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