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Good Material: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW'S 10 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR • A TODAY SHOW #ReadWithJenna BOOK CLUB PICK • From the New York Times best-selling author of Ghosts and Everything I Know About Love: a story of heartbreak and friendship and how to survive both
“One of the foremost ‘it’ writers of our time . . . Whatever ails you, Alderton can fix it with her intimate wisdom . . . There is no writer quite like Dolly Alderton working today."
—Lisa Taddeo, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Three Women
Andy loves Jen. Jen loved Andy. And he can't work out why she stopped.
Now he is. . .
Without a home
Waiting for his stand-up career to take off
Wondering why everyone else around him seems to have grown up while he wasn't looking
Set adrift on the sea of heartbreak, Andy clings to the idea of solving the puzzle of his ruined relationship. Because if he can find the answer to that, then maybe Jen can find her way back to him. But Andy still has a lot to learn, not least his ex-girlfriend's side of the story…
In this sharply funny and exquisitely relatable story of romantic disaster and friendship, Dolly Alderton offers up a love story with two endings, demonstrating once again why she is one of the most exciting writers today, and the true voice of a generation.
“One of the foremost ‘it’ writers of our time . . . Whatever ails you, Alderton can fix it with her intimate wisdom . . . There is no writer quite like Dolly Alderton working today."
—Lisa Taddeo, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Three Women
Andy loves Jen. Jen loved Andy. And he can't work out why she stopped.
Now he is. . .
Without a home
Waiting for his stand-up career to take off
Wondering why everyone else around him seems to have grown up while he wasn't looking
Set adrift on the sea of heartbreak, Andy clings to the idea of solving the puzzle of his ruined relationship. Because if he can find the answer to that, then maybe Jen can find her way back to him. But Andy still has a lot to learn, not least his ex-girlfriend's side of the story…
In this sharply funny and exquisitely relatable story of romantic disaster and friendship, Dolly Alderton offers up a love story with two endings, demonstrating once again why she is one of the most exciting writers today, and the true voice of a generation.
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Community Reviews
thenextgoodbook.com
What’s it about?
When Jen dumps Andy after four years together he is totally heartbroken. He didn’t see it coming and he desperately wants to understand why.
What did it make me think about?
Oh please Andy- let’s get over this!
Should I read it?
Dolly Alderton is a talented writer. At page 170 I found that I really liked Andy- and I really wanted Andy to get over it and move on, but I wasn’t so sure about the book! But Dolly Alderton kept writing, and I kept reading, and this novel slowly started working for me. It is a very easy read, so although I got frustrated with the main character at times, it was never hard to pick it back up and keep going. I won’t say any more (in an attempt not to give anything away) but I think many readers would enjoy this look at modern relationships and heartbreak.
Quote-
” ‘I mean obviously she’s met someone else,’ I say.
‘There’s no other explanation.’
‘Sorry, why is there no other explanation?’ Jane asks.
‘Because people don’t break up with people who they’ve had absolutely no prior problem with just so they can be single. No one likes being single that much.’
‘I’d like to be single,’ Jane replies. ‘I think most women would. It’s men who don’t know how to do it.’
‘I hate today,’ Avi says sulkily.”
What’s it about?
When Jen dumps Andy after four years together he is totally heartbroken. He didn’t see it coming and he desperately wants to understand why.
What did it make me think about?
Oh please Andy- let’s get over this!
Should I read it?
Dolly Alderton is a talented writer. At page 170 I found that I really liked Andy- and I really wanted Andy to get over it and move on, but I wasn’t so sure about the book! But Dolly Alderton kept writing, and I kept reading, and this novel slowly started working for me. It is a very easy read, so although I got frustrated with the main character at times, it was never hard to pick it back up and keep going. I won’t say any more (in an attempt not to give anything away) but I think many readers would enjoy this look at modern relationships and heartbreak.
Quote-
” ‘I mean obviously she’s met someone else,’ I say.
‘There’s no other explanation.’
‘Sorry, why is there no other explanation?’ Jane asks.
‘Because people don’t break up with people who they’ve had absolutely no prior problem with just so they can be single. No one likes being single that much.’
‘I’d like to be single,’ Jane replies. ‘I think most women would. It’s men who don’t know how to do it.’
‘I hate today,’ Avi says sulkily.”
I echo every other review I've read when I say that a really great ending doesn't entirely make up for the slog that is the majority of the book. Although I wouldn't say that I particularly enjoyed it, there were a few charming moments, and ultimately it has made me really think. I will be thinking about that Joni Mitchell "kick the door off its hinges" quote forever.
"It was... painful. Truthful. Unbearable at points. Fucking funny."
Such a pleasant read about a not-so-pleasant part of life.
Just as Ms. Dolly got me buying into the delusion that men and women have nearly identical beakup experiences, I was slapped in the face with the fact that PEOPLE don't see or experience things the same way and that they don't always realize that what they thought they wanted or didn't want is often.... not.
This is not about gender; it's simply about being human.
Alderton gets real with the importance of communicating, really being our true selves, and accepting the imperfections of life.
"A good time needs the fires of tragedy underneath it to keep it on a rolling boil."
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