Good Material

Content Warning: The source material contains themes of alcohol misuse and food restriction.

Andy is the protagonist and first-person narrator for most of the novel until the book switches to Jen’s perspective in the end. At 35, Andy finds himself reeling from a broken relationship while nursing a failing career in stand-up comedy. As a creative person, Andy is charming, witty, and free-spirited, all characteristics that initially endeared his ex-girlfriend Jen to him. Despite his charm, Alderton indirectly characterizes Andy as flawed, and the conflict of the novel largely arises from his need for personal growth. His insecurities and vulnerabilities often manifest in his relationships with others, and his need for validation and acceptance becomes an emotional barrier to authentic connection. Though he’s made his career in public performance, Andy doesn’t share his feelings with his friends or partner, not for lack of want but for fear. He explains, “I don’t know how to choose the right words to correctly represent all the thoughts and feelings that are piling up inside me” (191). Alderton presents this as a problem caused by patriarchal conditioning by comparing Andy to his equally inexpressive male friends and juxtaposing him with Jen and her expressive female friends.