Reviews tagging 'Dysphoria'

Normale mensen by Sally Rooney

14 reviews

go_with_the_flow's review against another edition

emotional reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Eating disorder, Dysphoria, and Body shaming

ciaranhurley's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse

Moderate: Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, and Suicidal thoughts

hello_lovely13's review against another edition

emotional 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

5.0

This book is dreadfully beautiful.  It is unbelievably intimate, but I wouldn’t describe it as cozy.  It’s not optimistic either, but it’s honest and beautiful.  The characters are deeply flawed and written in a way that’s so skillful that you can’t fully describe them in words because how they’re presented on the page just gives you an indescribable sense of who they are.  Rooney is a master of literary subtleties, and this is definitely one of the best books I’ve ever read, even though I’m not sure I’d recommend it to everyone I know.  It takes a certain person, who doesn’t mind reflective pieces and honest grey morality, for them to enjoy and/or appreciate this book.  It deserves all the hype.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Dysphoria, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault

Minor: Blood, Bullying, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

ntvenessa's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-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

4.75

You know a novel's got you in in its grips when after a 10hr work day, all you want to do is continue reading until there are no more pages to be turned. Lo and behold, you've accidentally been awake for what, 20hrs? This was exquisitely crafted in language and feeling. This is a book about intimacy, love, sex, and the eternally painstaking quest for our insatiable human need to feel understood, and by extension, belong. Some critics will point out the flattening of peripheral characters and use of questionable, if not, uninteresting tropes, but I don't think a book needs to check off a universal criteria list in order to be considered good. What's of value here is the reading experience as much as the feelings that linger after the story finishes. Rooney's skill and talent is abundant in her masterful prose and you are in good hands for this reading experience. I think the novel's intense focus on the main characters' problematic but redeemable personalities to the expense of other characters contributes to what makes this novel brilliant. We all believe ourselves to be the main characters of our own lives. We are just as self absorbed on our own individual quests. It would be nice if trauma was handled a bit better. But it would be nice if trauma was handled better in life too.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Eating disorder, Dysphoria, and Death of parent