Reviews with content warning for Self harm - Normale mensen

First, I’ll note that I listened to the audiobook, so I didn’t even know there were no quotations, but the writing style of reverting to a memory in the middle of describing the current situation was definitely confusing at times. In regards to the characters and character development, it was a bit frustrating hearing their stories. There were things I appreciated about this book. I appreciate realistic and raw stories. At times I liked how mundane and glossed over their issues were, but at other times I wish there was more emphasis on the gravity of the issues they were facing. I wish by the end there was a sense of progress and hope but the progress felt quite minuscule and quite honestly I feel so helpless towards them and it’s so disappointing. I have dealt with depression and self hatred, but in the last couple of years I’ve gotten help and support and come along way. So I guess maybe I just feel triggered? I feel like I was brought back to those feelings in a way but just left there. I can’t imagine having read this book during that time and getting any comfort by it. I think it would have made me feel less hopeful for myself and I think that’s why this book bothers me. At times it was endearing that they always found their way back together, but that by the end of it they were basically just co-dependent on each other it just made me sad. I feel like this book will stay with me for a long time. I plan on watching the series eventually. Idk if I’m ready for it. Maybe the point of the book was to leave us feeling this way and if so then, congrats, but idk I feel like it just wasn’t the right fit for me.

Content Warnings

meggerzroach's review against another edition

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

4.5

Content Warnings

phantomeyer's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-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

3.0

The public’s opinion on this book is divided, and so too is mine.

Perhaps easiest to first discuss is the writing style. While you could argue that the lack of punctuated dialogue contributed to the impression that each scene wasn’t so much a distinct event as a one of many moments in time, it seemed a lazy method to achieve this goal. Punctuate the sentences properly, and it would have been more obvious just how mundane some of the descriptions were. Not that mundane is necessarily bad, but it doesn’t sit well with me that this stylistic choice could be sufficient to turn mediocre writing into “good” writing. I will admit, however, Rooney does make good word choices, which at times lead to rather evocative passages.

Next, the characters. I’ve seen complaints that the secondary characters aren’t fleshed out, but honestly I couldn’t care less. This book is about two people, and it makes sense to me that others seem unimportant in comparison. But let’s talk about these two characters. I don’t think they are unrealistic, but their arc felt rushed or disjointed at various points. Marianne all of a sudden fits in at college despite an incredibly isolating youth? Connell is intensely discomforted at the idea of dominating through violence, but gives away his former misgivings about psychological dominance without any reflection shared with the reader? It felt like Rooney was missing opportunities to explore interesting themes that would have added more depth to the book. Furthermore, skips such as these meant I was unable to maintain empathy consistently throughout the novel, and Marianne and Connell are not easy people to read about to begin with. You can’t afford to lose a reader’s empathy when your main characters’ struggles (to communicate, to make good decisions for themselves) become irritating without it.

This leads me to my thoughts about the plot. As a general rule, I enjoy character-driven plot, but I was tired of the constant back and forth by the end. A correction: I was tired of it a quarter of the way in. Their relationship felt largely repetitive, and the change in dynamic in the final act was not explored enough. If I had cared more about the characters, the ending might have been poignant, but as it was, I was just happy to be free of joyless characters and a book that had not quite reached its potential.

Content Warnings