Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Normal People by Sally Rooney

415 reviews

zeynepsiir's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-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

I had watched the TV show and really enjoyed it, so I figured I’d read the book. When it comes to TV/movie adaptations, I generally think the book is way better; sadly not this time. The book felt very flat in comparison, the writing was quite weird at times (a character was randomly likened to a Labrador(?) at one point). Some plot points also felt very random and like they didn’t have the proper grounding in the story. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Blood, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, and Sexual violence

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. 

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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

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Moderate: Bullying and Alcohol

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

hannahreadsawholelot's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

This novel made me look at the relationships and trauma I've experienced in my own life, and really assess how I'm dealing with those things, and reframing my life, motivations, and mentality surrounding them. I think everyone should read this book, as it discusses very important things, but it is not an easy read if not prepared to look inward. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, and Self harm

eedle_cacleberry's review against another edition

challenging 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

3.5

as someone who hasn’t been in a situationship, i felt like the emotions and connections weren’t there. the ability to relate is where i feel people really connect with this book. that the characters are realistic and the way it’s told is so accurate. don’t get me wrong i still enjoyed the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Alcohol, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Violence, and Bullying

Minor: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

mockingjayx16's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-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

0.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual violence, Eating disorder, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Death, Alcohol, Infidelity, Dysphoria, Sexual assault, Body shaming, and Physical abuse

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, and Gaslighting

iamaprettyflower's review against another edition

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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I wish the characters would just talk to each other, because it constantly feels like they're purposely not understanding one another. It made me want to reach into the book and shake them for being so self-centred and emotionally blind. 

Also, Sally Rooney not using speech marks was an artistic choice that took a while to get used to?

Overall, I really wanted this book to be amazing as I've heard so many good things, but it just didn't hit the spot. I wanted to see the characters emotional intelligence grow, but it never happened. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Gaslighting, Vomit, Alcohol, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, Blood, Death, Bullying, Classism, Eating disorder, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Violence

emilyvictoria_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This book captures humanity and love so beautifully, leaving my heart aching. I love Sally Rooney’s writing style, the attention to detail is incredible yet so easy to read. She simultaneously creates relatable and shocking circumstances which leave me questioning everything I already know about the world. I love it 💖

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, and Blood

katelyn_stark's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Sexual assault, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Toxic friendship, Bullying, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Injury/Injury detail, Eating disorder, Infidelity, and Death of parent

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