Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Normal People by Sally Rooney

1254 reviews

xveronica_fx's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Grief, Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Bullying, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Child abuse, and Death of parent

annasph's review against another edition

sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Really really good book that I finished faster than anything I tried to read in the past 5 years which have been a reading slump. I could not identify myself in the least bit with either character but it was a really good insight into other people? I cannot stress how much I loathed some of the things both of them (but particularly Marianne) thought and said, not from a moral highground (at least I hope so), but more of a really really exhausted spectators perspective.

What made me really uncomfortable was Mariannes constant need to submit herself to the men she has sex with. I can see how it is part of her characterization in the book, but I would have appreaciated a trigger warning these parts made me want to hurl my guts out. Again this does not make it bad, it is very very well written just very heavy material.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Bullying, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol

kaylahcc's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness

Moderate: Bullying, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Minor: Suicide

n0n0tareader's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, and Violence

ekern1991's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse

_meganrose's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

I can see why this book can be so polarizing for people. It gave me a similar feel to ‘One Day’ and ‘Alone With You In The Ether,’ which are two of my favorites. It had the potential to be right up there with them, but just fell slightly short. This was very emotional and humanizing. The complexity of the characters and their dynamic had me hooked. My only two major critiques are: 1. I wish there were quotations around the dialogue - it was confusing sometimes and 2. the final chapter was a let down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse

Moderate: Blood, Violence, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Minor: War and Cancer

jjmydude's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Gives a glimpse into the lives of two individuals leading extraordinary and mundane lives.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Domestic abuse, Blood, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, and Physical abuse

theasoleil's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse

Minor: Eating disorder and Emotional abuse

gaby_readsss's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Normal People is not a book you read for enjoyment. Its story will break your heart and frustrate you to no end.

I had wanted to read this book after hearing so many polarizing opinions on it. To be honest, I don’t even know how I feel about this book yet. Part of me wants to love it but I mostly hate it. Like, I get it, but why does it have to be so complicated? If you guys love each other and are miserable without each other why do you keep letting each other go? 😭 I know that this is more than just their relationship but man, I don’t even know if these characters had any personal growth. 
Also, that ending was so frustrating. I get the point but I don’t get it at the same time. 😩

I’ll go watch the show now to try and make sense of what I just read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Bullying, and Suicidal thoughts

mackenziewrites's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 I was so excited to read this book after coming across it in an Instagram video, I began seeing it everywhere but I had no idea what it was about. It sat on my shelf for a few months, the bright green and blue cover calling my name every day. This was my first time not reading reviews, synopses, or spoilers and I think I want to continue to do that moving forward. It worked out so well for me with this one! 

 

The first thing I noticed was the author’s choice to not use quotation marks for the dialogue. It threw me for a loop for the first few pages, but I got used to it. 

One review from The Washington Post says “A novel that demands to be read compulsively in one sitting” and while I didn’t do that, I found myself constantly wanting to read more about Marianne and Connell and what happens next in their story. 

 

Sally Rooney draws you into a seemingly mundane story set across years about characters who you become completely invested in. Sometimes you just want to shake them and tell them to open their eyes. The book illuminates the power in the small moments between two people, the said and the unsaid, the line between love and friendship. If you’re looking for a quick or easy read that will engross you and pull at your heartstrings while also bringing up core memories from your own life, pick this one up. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Physical abuse