Nina's mum changes her name to Mandy at a time that her husband is struggling to maintain a grasp of his own reality. Which of Nina's friends did you have the most respect for and why? Which of Nina's friends did you have the least respect for and why? To what extent did you agree with Lola's observations? Lola is something of an expert in judging online dating profiles and the etiquette of online dating. As a writer I imagine Alderton growing in sophistication and going from strength to strength. It is the struggle that Nina's Mum has in managing the loss of her husband to dementia that was the most powerful aspect of the book for me.ĭolly Alderton's Ghosts is a book that different generations of the same family could enjoy and come together to chat over. For a mature reader like myself this is eye-opening.ĭolly Alderton's Ghosts presentation of dementia and Nina's growing awareness of the loss of her father (as she had known him) as being the true tragedy in her life is moving to read. Alderton explores and examines online dating and its pros and cons with aplomb. Young readers would probably laugh at my minimal understanding of 'Ghosting' before reading the book but Nina experiences it first hand and copes well.
Nina presents as a likeable, but flawed woman finding her way in a modern world. As such, it reminded me of a slightly more serious Bridget Jones type narrative, Striving for and attaining good mental health is a theme that is never far from the surface and we watch Nina navigate the disappointments and upsets of life as she ultimately strives to achieve an equilibrium and sense of peace.
Presented as a first person narrative the style is straightforward and the text could almost be a 'real life' diary. From exploring issues of having children, to managing careers, to coping with middle age and caring for elderly parents there is something that most readers can relate to. As such it is ambitious in scope and presents a realistic portrayal of significant points in life. Dolly Alderton's Ghosts follows the thirty second year of its main character Nina and explores the relationships that she has with her friends, parents and boyfriend Max.
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