Reviews tagging 'War'

Normale mensen by Sally Rooney

15 reviews

eliya's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

This is written so beautifully. The narration is so heartbreakingly aware of minute details that make interactions meaningful. There were so many times listening to this book that I thought “yes!! that!!” at something that i’ve experienced interpersonally and wasn’t able to verbalize myself before. 

The chapters are written not like a story, but like a painful memory that the author is recounting for us as we try to understand what went wrong, where. This felt so real to me. 

Listening to the audiobook was a treat, the vocal performance was as stunning and empathetic. I plan on obtaining a copy of this book for myself and rereading it in a few years, just long enough so that I can forget enough of it to love it a second time. I loved this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Violence

Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Suicide, War, and Fatphobia

teeclecticreads's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.5

Not only was this whole book about a toxic relationship between these two, but the ending was so lacklustre. Also, why is she not using quotation marks??? I didn’t like that :/

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Grief, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Vomit, Genocide, and War

katjayorke's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.0

Beautiful and realistic story of a complicated relationship and young life. At times frustrating and at times loving and relieving. Abrupt but well suited ending. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Bullying, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Violence, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship

Minor: War, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent

aleilvandrea'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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Blood, Classism, Grief, Sexism, Violence, Body shaming, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Suicide, Torture, Alcohol, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Rape, Gaslighting, and Death of parent

Minor: War

froggybooks's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Classism, and Bullying

Moderate: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: War

elspethmigliore'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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

this was truly one of the most beautiful books i have ever read. i have never story a book as real as this one. 

it was definitely frustrating at times how odd and confusing the relationship and characters were. but thats the point. both marianne and connell are so relatable in so many ways and even at their worst times, they made sense. even when both of them were communicating at their best, there was still lots of miscommunication and pain, which is so realistic and honestly made their connection even more special. i fell in love with the dynamic of their comfort and pureness from the very beginning. i’m honestly just dumping a bunch of words right now because i’m kind of in shock at how relatable and real this story was. never in my life have i felt so close to and understood by a book. both of the characters were so incredibly real and true and i just wish them both the best. 

this is 100 percent reread material ✅

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Violence, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Sexual content

Moderate: Suicide, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, and Eating disorder

Minor: Abortion and War

mary_johnston's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Alcohol, Misogyny, Hate crime, Suicide attempt, War, Xenophobia, Violence, Homophobia, and Death of parent

mintymintyminty's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense 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

1.75

This book comes highly recommended from so many angles, but IMO does not come even close to deserving these accolades. This book is raw, and written in an interesting kind of vignette style, but it does not do anything with these attributes, and they end up being barely any kind of saving grace to the plot. The plot is insipid and despair-inducing, and the only thing I could glean from these characters is how much I would never want to be like them. Overall, a depressing slog that is a celebration of mediocrity in publishing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Grief, and Mental illness

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: War and Racism

sadiaa's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, Bullying, Physical abuse, Death, Alcohol, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence

Moderate: War and Classism

abioneil's review against another edition

challenging 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

3.25

This book is quite complex. The relationship that Connel and Marianne have is painful to read about. Don’t go into this thinking it will end with sunshine and rainbows. It is obvious that both characters needed serious help. Other than that, I would say that the narrating style was a bit odd, the narrator was third person and at times seemed to be limited and other times omniscient. I didn’t quite enjoy the book, the idea that relationships between people can change their overal character and personality is explored wonderfully, however, it does feel like some of the scenes central ideas are repeated (even though this may have advanced the plot, it was hard to read). I think that the character growth felt sudden instead of gradual buildup.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Alcohol, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Death, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Violence

Minor: Abortion, Blood, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, War, Adult/minor relationship, and Grief