Top positive review
4.0 out of 5 starsTHE STRONG WRTING IS THE MAIN APPEAL
Reviewed in Australia on 7 July 2021
Good relationships are about many things, including compromise and, none are perfect. Nick Alexander's ‘From Something Old’ shows the importance of entering relationships with your eyes wide open and armed with a healthy level of self-esteem. It also focuses on individual perspectives and motivations, as well as the impact of an individual's background and/or influences. Yes, there’s certainly a mix of complex variables when you enter and/or leave a relationship.
FSO's characters have experiences that centre around the pitfalls and pivotal moments in their relationships, but they also face the possibility of embracing change (or alternatively being blindsided by unexpected circumstances). The characters are perceptively drawn, yet I really didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did. Although there a no big surprises in the plot, it’s the author’s writing that is the book’s main attraction – witty, deceptively simple, real and communicative. After saying that, the two drawbacks are connected to the author’s writing, imo: an (arguably) drawn out conclusion; and overly referencing crying throughout the book. I have read this author some time ago, but will nevertheless check out the other titles I may have missed.
