Reviews tagging 'Classism'

Normale mensen by Sally Rooney

230 reviews

alice_ca_glisse's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Classism, Mental illness, Child abuse, and Death of parent

elizabethwb's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Not an awful book, but weak and lazy ending. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Classism, Cursing, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

heresyourletter's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

2.5

I liked the pacing of the book and had a hard time putting it down. That being said, the writing style wasn’t my favourite. There were also a lot of political views that were thrown in for no reason (not related to plot or character development), in a holier-than-thou, preaching sort of way (which even as a progressive, can be annoying).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Sexual content, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Addiction, and Bullying

Minor: Vomit, Abortion, Infidelity, and Suicide

Characters smoke cigarettes throughout the book. The two main characters have sex frequently (but the descriptions aren’t super graphic). Throughout the book, the main characters hurt each other emotionally by making big decisions that affect their relationship, without communicating with the other person. Both main character experience bullying at different points in the book. Class conflict throughout the book, as one main character is wealthy and the other is working class. One character argues that a woman (who doesn’t actually appear in the story) should have an abortion because she doesn’t have a job and isn’t in a relationship with the father. One character drinks until they vomit.

When the two main characters first get together, one is embarrassed to be seen in public with the other, so they keep their relationship a secret. One main character is verbally (and occasionally physically) abused by their family, then gaslighted by their family members whenever the abuse happens. This culminates in the main character’s nose being broken after trying to escape from a family member. The scene is intense and the injury is rather graphic. One main character experiences rural discrimination upon moving from a small town in Sligo to Dublin for university. The female main character is a masochist, getting into relationships with men who physically and emotionally abuse her. One main character is diagnosed with depression and put on medication. One main character is mugged. There is a brief description of the injury. Two characters share a bed and almost have sex, despite being in relationships with other people. One minor character dies by suicide.

ughlex's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Child abuse, and Classism

saramassoudi's review against another edition

emotional 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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Body shaming, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Classism, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Death of parent, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Vomit, and Suicidal thoughts

a_rash_read's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Alcohol, Grief, Domestic abuse, and Mental illness

Minor: Alcohol, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Abortion, Racism, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Eating disorder, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Classism, Death, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, and Pregnancy

my_a's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I didn't want this to end. I was reading it after having watched the series - the only thing I'd say is I thought the final lines of the book weren't as strong as the final lines of the TV show. I need to get a physical copy to analyse as there was soo many lines that just got me in the gut and expressed things within me I've never been able to recognise or express. Jesus Christ do I feel seen (not sure this is a good thing lol).

I read this (& watched the show) during the pandemic but didn't get it. Having matured I definetly fully appreciate it now and I'm glad I've been reintroduced to Sally Rooney's work ahead of her new book being announced! Now time to re-read her other books that I didn't appreciate before.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Sexual content

Moderate: Classism, Death, and Mental illness

avabudavari's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Blood, Domestic abuse, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use, Eating disorder, Addiction, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Death, Genocide, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Colonisation, and Mental illness

alexisbee15's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

3.5

This story began as a wonderful and youthful tale of forbidden love, but morphed into a hyper-realistic reflection of life. This is not the book if you are hoping for a happy ending or tragic romance. It's somehow perfectly balanced in-between. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Dysphoria, Toxic friendship, Grief, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Bullying, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Classism

lauraloveslemons's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Child abuse, Classism, and Bullying

Moderate: Sexual content, Physical abuse, Drug use, Grief, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, and Blood