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I had heard a lot about British author and screenwriter Dolly Alderton. She is a columnist for The Sunday Times and the author of the hugely popular memoir ‘Everything I know About Love’ which won a National Book Awards (United Kingdom) in 2018. Everyone I know seems to have read Everything I Know About Love and they have great things to say about it. I, for some reason, hadn’t picked up her work despite having come across the memoir and her debut fiction novel ‘Ghosts’. I often took them down from the shelves at the bookstore I frequent, randomly read a page, and put them back.

However, when I came across ‘Good Material’ and read the blurb, I wanted to buy and read it straight away. A story about a breakup while trying to come to terms with the fact that life is passing him by, Good Material seemed like a fun and insightful read. I have to say I enjoyed the book (though not as much as I thought I would when I read the blurb). I think Alderton is a good writer. Her writing is easy to read and immersive. But Good Material didn’t make it to my growing list of favorite books and I don’t find myself recommending it to people either.

Good Material is the story of Andy and Jen, or rather the story of their breakup. When Jen leaves Andy, he is devastated. He doesn’t understand why she wanted to end things when they didn’t have any major issues. At 35, Andy goes back to temporarily living with his parents and his friends before finding an affordable place to rent as a single man as he gets his affairs in order. But things aren’t easy and he feels out of place, adrift without a purpose in life. His friends are married and having babies, and he’s struggling with his career and has no idea where his life is headed. Andy wants to figure out why the relationship fizzled out as he thinks solving that will mean Jen finding her way back to him.

The first 200 or so pages of the book is Andy’s side of the story. He comes across as a good guy, with his heart in the right place. But as with most people, he doesn’t seem to be able to put aside his wants and needs for someone else. As he wallows and whines, you feel bad for him while also understanding why Jen would leave him. In the last 100 pages, you get to hear from Jen and that is when things fall into place. Andy’s version of the story makes Jen sound callous, even though he never portrays her in a bad light. But when Jen narrates her story, you realize breakups are never simple. Every relationship is messy and complicated and it takes a lot of work and sacrifice to make it work.

One of the main (and perhaps only) reason why I’m not raving about the book is because I felt Andy’s portion dragged on. Jen’s bit was enthralling and I breezed through the pages. The story felt complete and real. It was a love story without being a cliché love story. The side characters felt like people I knew. They had a real feel to them even though there’s not much character development. I think I would have loved the book had it been slightly shorter. At its current length, the story tends to bog you down.

Good Material

Dolly Alderton

Published: 2023

Publisher: Penguin Random House UK

Pages: 345, Paperback

Newly amended laws in Nepal to tackle crimes committed during its decade-long bitter civil war could instead deprive victims of justice and grant amnesty to those culpable, rights lawyers warned Thursday.

Both government forces and former rebels are accused of carrying out torture, killings, rapes and forced disappearances during Nepal's Maoist insurgency.

The conflict ended in 2006 with a peace deal that brought the rebels into government and promised justice for the victims, whick included more than 16,000 dead and around 1,000 missing.

Nepal's two transitional justice commissions began operating in 2015, but failed to resolve a single case, despite receiving over 60,000 complaints of murders, torture and unexplained disappearances.

In August, parliament passed long-delayed amendments to the transitional justice act aiming to address this.

But a team of international rights lawyers, in a report released Thursday and based on a research mission to Nepal, warned the changes could do the opposite and exclude "swathes of victims" from justice.

The lawyers added that the new law "permits amnesties which would prevent criminal accountability for gross violations of human rights".

The lawyers said that until addressed, the "doors to the regular justice system should not be closed".

The group was supported by rights organisation Peace Brigades International (PBI).

Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena, a constitutional lawyer from Sri Lanka, and part of the team, said effective justice was not possible so long as the law "excludes certain gross violations, opens the door for amnesties and allows for the exclusion of certain victims".

Just two convictions related to crimes committed during the civil war crimes have been handed down in civilian courts. One was linked to the murder of a teenage girl. The other was related to the killing of a journalist.

As Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli completes his first 100 days in office, public reaction to the government’s performance is mixed. Despite unveiling a long list of accomplishments, criticism from both the ruling party and opposition focuses on allegations of corruption and failures in governance.

Oli claims that 70 percent of the government’s targets have been achieved, but this is part of a routine practice where governments present progress reports during their "honeymoon period" that often fail to impress the public. After forming the government, there was a delay in setting priorities, with a shared policy resolution introduced only after 67 days. As a result, beyond routine matters, the government has made little substantive progress.

In July, the Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML formed a coalition government, promising political stability and economic development. They also pledged to amend the Constitution, but there has been little action. After 100 days, there is no visible enthusiasm for the amendments within the ruling parties. NC and UML have yet to initiate discussions within their parties or with others on potential changes, particularly to the electoral system and federalism. Meanwhile, opposition parties, including the CPN (Maoist Center), have started cautioning against regressive changes to the constitution.

Despite the coalition’s promise of government stability, reports of a growing rift between NC and UML have surfaced. Oli has repeatedly reassured the public that his government will last its full term, but there are signs of internal division. Tensions have arisen over issues such as the removal of Kul Man Ghising from Nepal Electricity Authority, changes to party split laws and ambassadorial appointments. Fringe parties have also expressed growing dissatisfaction with the government.

The ruling UML's decision to accept donations from businessman Min Bahadur Gurung for party office construction has also drawn strong criticism, including from within the party. On the external front, the government has made little headway. Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba’s visits and Prime Minister Oli’s meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the UN General Assembly have yielded limited progress. Relations with China have also stagnated.

Meanwhile, tensions between ruling and opposition parties are escalating, with the opposition warning of street protests in the coming months. The arrest of former home minister and Rastriya Swatantra Party Chair Rabi Lamichhane has further strained relations. Opposition leaders, including Pushpa Kamal Dahal of the Maoist Center, claim Lamichhane’s arrest was politically motivated and that the government is targeting opposition figures while neglecting broader governance issues. Dahal has accused the government of selective prosecution in corruption cases.

The Maoist Center is preparing to organize a demonstration in Kathmandu to warn the government against taking any decisions targeting the opposition parties. Dahal is of the view that the government has become too weak in governance and is targeting the opposition parties on the pretext of fighting corruption.

Another contentious issue is Oli’s attempt to introduce an ordinance to lower the threshold for party splits. Under current law, 40 percent of lawmakers are required to split a party, but the proposed ordinance would reduce this to 20 percent, enabling members of CPN (Unified Socialist) to defect to UML. Opposition parties have urged President Ramchandra Paudel to reject the ordinance, warning that it could create a rift between the President and Prime Minister. So far, the President has avoided major controversies.

In its first 100 days, the government has made little progress in addressing the country’s economic challenges, and there have been no visible improvements in governance or service delivery. Dissatisfaction is growing, both within major political parties and among the public, as optimism fades about the government’s ability to deliver meaningful change or stability.

As an emissary of President Xi Jinping of China, Central Committee Member and Secretary of China’s Qinghai Province, Chen Gang, visited Nepal from 19-21 October 2024. His visit should not be viewed as an isolated event loaded with an agenda but rather as part of a continuing series of exchanges between the leaders of the communist parties of Nepal and the Communist Party of China (CPC). Nepali political leaders, particularly those from left-leaning parties, have frequently visited China at the invitation of the International Department of the CPC, and senior leaders of the CPC have reciprocated these visits.

Chen's visit came at the invitation of CPN-UML Secretary Raghubir Mahaseth, who is also the chief of the party's foreign affairs department. Upon arriving in Kathmandu, Chen engaged in discussions with the heads of major political parties, including Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Sher Bahadur Deuba, reaffirming the ties between the CPC and Nepali political parties. He also raised Chinese concerns, apart from sharing decisions made during the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

How, then, should this visit be considered? Here are three key points that outline its significance:

Taking stock of Kathmandu’s mood
Chen’s visit aimed to gauge the mood in Kathmandu following the formation of a coalition government under KP Sharma Oli, president of Nepal’s largest communist party. Beijing likely finds comfort in a government led by leftist parties, but this does not imply that Chinese officials neglect their relations with non-leftist parties. China has adopted a policy of multiparty engagement in Nepal since the abolition of the monarchy. Every delegation meets the key leaders of major parties regardless of ideology or political alignment. The CPC understands that in today's globalized world, mutual respect and benefit take precedence over ideological closeness. China has a policy of shared development and shared destiny. Thus, Chen's visit was a way to take stock of Kathmandu's political situation following the formation of the new government.

Reaffirming support
Chen's visit served to reassure Nepal’s new coalition government of China’s full support. Chinese leaders have closely monitored Nepal's political dynamics and the influence of external powers on its domestic affairs. The world is currently in a state of transition: the old order is being questioned, and the new world order has yet to fully emerge. Although the US-led world order has already lost much of its influence, with China rising as a new global power, the future of world politics remains uncertain. Chinese leaders recognize that Nepal has become a focal point in geopolitical competition. The MCC is now being implemented in Nepal, and both American and European powers are promoting Western narratives that aim to counter China's growing influence in the region. During his visit, Chen discussed global politics and geopolitics, advising Nepali leaders to stay informed about Chinese affairs through official CPC and Chinese government sources.  

The third plenary session
Another important aspect of Chen's visit was to share decisions made during the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, recently held in Beijing. The International Department of the CPC and the Qinghai Provincial Committee organized a deliberation and interaction program at the Yak & Yeti Hotel, where Secretary Chen and Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Chen Song, addressed key aspects of Nepal-China relations and explored potential future partnerships. Secretary Chen presented China's development model, focusing on the use of technology in agriculture, industry and human resource development. 

Qinghai's topography is similar to Nepal’s, and the region has faced seasonal floods and landslides. The Qinghai provincial government has swiftly carried out reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts for those affected. Secretary Chen assured the government of Nepal and political leaders that China is ready to support Nepal in the post-disaster reconstruction process. This was a significant commitment from the Chinese side. However, it is worth noting that both India and China have provided support to Nepal during such disasters, proving that "neighbors in need are neighbors indeed."

Prime Minister Oli and CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel echoed similar views on party-to-party relations between Nepal and China. Prime Minister Oli recalled President Xi's 2019 visit to Nepal as historic and requested the prompt execution of the commitments made during that visit. General Secretary Pokhrel highlighted the lessons Nepali political parties, especially the CPN-UML, could learn from the CPC’s growth and functioning. Pokhrel had visited China last year, including Qinghai, where he observed the region’s ecological development efforts. The CPC and the Chinese government have been transforming Qinghai into an ecological center of China, ensuring harmony between humans and nature. Under Secretary Chen's leadership, Qinghai has made significant progress. In this regard, Chen's visit was important for both Nepal and China.