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readingqueerly's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
A few things this book needs: content/trigger warnings, a character sheet, and actual normal people.
I'm sorry but I could not stand the main characters. Especially in the first part during secondary school, that was the hardest to get through. They are supposedly 'normal people' , yet they are so unhinged and for me their interactions were so hard to follow. The lack of punctuation wasn't the problem, it was the actual content of the interactions that just to me didn't make sense at times. I feel like I'm missing something?
I think I'm still glad I read it, but it was very much a let down and was really not for me. Those main characters being the way they are in what is basically a character study of a book was just not it.
I'm sorry but I could not stand the main characters. Especially in the first part during secondary school, that was the hardest to get through. They are supposedly 'normal people' , yet they are so unhinged and for me their interactions were so hard to follow. The lack of punctuation wasn't the problem, it was the actual content of the interactions that just to me didn't make sense at times. I feel like I'm missing something?
I think I'm still glad I read it, but it was very much a let down and was really not for me. Those main characters being the way they are in what is basically a character study of a book was just not it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexual violence
Moderate: Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
Minor: Suicide attempt
katelynhartley's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Given the nature of the material to discover the complexities of maintaining an identity intrinsic to personal beliefs and/or combating those assigned by others in themes such as multidimensional areas of development, I believe that this book was significantly over recommended for the experience I had with it. The story was compelling through the various timelines that exclusively occur in significant moments with flashbacks of contextual points to reach these periods, except there were no quotation marks between dialogue and the communication among these characters was misleading.
The story established how well that Marianne and Connell are completely honest with each other in their communication yet there are constant misunderstandings, half truths, omissions, and insecurities that wreck their foundation and essentially reset their progress every time. They were an unofficial exclusive couple three times in their lives with verbal understanding that they love each other. Every time they broke up it wasn’t established by communication but just a simple negligence to communication.
Character personalities, social personas, and thoughts are fully realized to resemble real life, both the good and horrible sides to humanity. This concept salvaged the reading experience yet the self depreciation did add to the already demoralized circumstances, thoughts, and subsequent actions.Marianne seeking trauma reenactment through sex fetishes and Connell’s deep depression stemming from Rob’s suicide were both unexpected and felt unnecessary. The narrative already established who is considered “normal” members of society through gender, relationships, and socioeconomic status and didn’t need to further identify that Marianne and Cornell were not, even though no one is
I did enjoy both perspectives and the longevity of how their lives are. The ending, being the last chapter, made me happy and then furious at the outcome because it showed little to no growth and left things unsaid. With that said though, I feel it was the best way to conclude the story for these character rather thana happy ending filled with commitment to each other with labels or marriage
The story established how well that Marianne and Connell are completely honest with each other in their communication yet there are constant misunderstandings, half truths, omissions, and insecurities that wreck their foundation and essentially reset their progress every time. They were an unofficial exclusive couple three times in their lives with verbal understanding that they love each other. Every time they broke up it wasn’t established by communication but just a simple negligence to communication.
Character personalities, social personas, and thoughts are fully realized to resemble real life, both the good and horrible sides to humanity. This concept salvaged the reading experience yet the self depreciation did add to the already demoralized circumstances, thoughts, and subsequent actions.
I did enjoy both perspectives and the longevity of how their lives are. The ending, being the last chapter, made me happy and then furious at the outcome because it showed little to no growth and left things unsaid. With that said though, I feel it was the best way to conclude the story for these character rather than
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
karalyndawn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.0
Although the tv series was better for me personally I do have to say this book wreaked me. I hated Connell at first but by the last half I felt for him. The miscommunication in this book is REAL. It drove me insane. In a slightly good way. Marianne and Connell do have a messed up relationship but they were both lonely and helped each other out so it’s hard for me to determine if they should have ended up together. It was interesting to see their relationship through the few years the book takes place and the ending doesn’t give any closure. I do recommend watching the series, the actors do a great job at conveying more emotion than the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Suicide, Eating disorder, and Suicidal thoughts
dhatislandbookworm's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I finally decided to read Normal People because I was intrigued by the plot of Intermezzo and I wanted to get a feel for Rooney’s writing. A few friends have also been anxiously waiting for me to dive into it.
Now that I have, I can confidently say that I feel very indifferent about this book.
I didn’t particularly like the characters, but I didn’t hate them either. I didn’t like their relationship, but I didn’t absolutely hate it either. (I did hate the constant miscommunication, even though that was sort of the main point. Sorry.)
Everything about Normal People was just *fine*. The first 75% of the book for me was the definition of “yes girl, give us nothing!”
Rooney DOES write very human characters, which I usually enjoy, so maybe it’s just this particular book. But I will be reading Intermezzoto fully determine if maybe if it was just the book or Sally Rooney just isn’t for me 🤷🏾♀️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Classism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
rachelpeck7's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Physical abuse
komiification's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Completely devastating how people can love each other so much yet can continue to hurt each other. Can never really talk to each other. Alongside this theme, as well as other points relating to genocide (which is still, upsettingly, relevant to today), and the way people now engage with literature without this political edge, this is, easily a modern classic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Alcohol, and Suicide
Moderate: Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Abortion, Classism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Genocide, Mass/school shootings, Racism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Xenophobia, and War
mooncraftbujo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
3.0
Do not get the hype at all. I like the reflection on toxic relationships but there is not a single character in this story that I liked or felt an emotional connection to, and I fully got the ick from none if the dialogue being in quotation marks.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Xenophobia, Violence, War, Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
mugsandmanuscripts's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
I'm finding this one hard to rate, because I think it's well done, but parts were excruciating to read. It doesn't work for me as a romance, but it works as a character-based, coming-of-age litfic novel.
A short summary: this is a dual POV story that follows the relationship and growth of the two main characters, Marianne and Connell. Connell struggles with anxiety and depression. Marianne comes from an abusive home and is bullied at school, but finds more popularity in college, where she begins a lot of self-destructive behaviors. Both suffer from self-esteem issues and terrible communication with each other. Those issues repeatedly push them apart, but they continue to orbit each other and fall into one another's gravity.
I think I would have liked the novel slightly better if it had focused on one of the characters rather than both, but then miscommunication was so awful between the characters that perhaps the second character wouldn't have been translatable without the second POV. But there was so much going on with both of them—Marianne's spiral features relationships with sadistic men, an eating disorder, and terrible friends. Connell struggles with intense social anxiety. They are only ever comfortable with each other, and yet they are inscrutable to one another.
Ultimately, I think this is a story that holds both despair and hope and was so believable that it hurt. The characters really did feel real. I liked it, but it's not one I'd read again.
A short summary: this is a dual POV story that follows the relationship and growth of the two main characters, Marianne and Connell. Connell struggles with anxiety and depression. Marianne comes from an abusive home and is bullied at school, but finds more popularity in college, where she begins a lot of self-destructive behaviors. Both suffer from self-esteem issues and terrible communication with each other. Those issues repeatedly push them apart, but they continue to orbit each other and fall into one another's gravity.
I think I would have liked the novel slightly better if it had focused on one of the characters rather than both, but then miscommunication was so awful between the characters that perhaps the second character wouldn't have been translatable without the second POV. But there was so much going on with both of them—Marianne's spiral features relationships with sadistic men, an eating disorder, and terrible friends. Connell struggles with intense social anxiety. They are only ever comfortable with each other, and yet they are inscrutable to one another.
Ultimately, I think this is a story that holds both despair and hope and was so believable that it hurt. The characters really did feel real. I liked it, but it's not one I'd read again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Bullying and Alcohol
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
dazzlingreader_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book is good, but it didn't talk to me as much as i thought it would. In my mind the characters are well written but they are and feel so real you might think of bad of them just from their decisions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Classism
knfaroun's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Eating disorder, Suicide, and Grief