Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Normalūs žmonės by Sally Rooney

298 reviews

packedjam's review against another edition

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

4.0

😵‍💫

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and Eating disorder

Minor: Mass/school shootings, Suicide, Fatphobia, Vomit, Classism, Abortion, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Drug use, Blood, and Racism

pestowing's review against another edition

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

4.0

When people said this book was sad, I expected it to be in a gutwrenching way but it was more sad in a sorry way. Life just sucks sometimes--our circumstances, our minds--and we have to keep moving anyways. I think how annoyed I felt at this book at times is a testament to how real it is. I kept yelling at the Marianne and Connell to "JUST COMMUNICATE!!" but let's be real, I'm no different. What I love the most about this book is that the resolution of the book wasn't necessarily the ending, it was the realization I had about myself a few hours later.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Grief, Body shaming, Suicide, and Classism

roaljones'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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts

shiveryteacup's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Grief, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Blood, Alcohol, Body shaming, and Suicide

steph_phanie's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Although this novel made me feel very melancholic, I couldn't stop listening to the audiobook. I was quite invested in the complex relationship between Marianne and Connell, as well as in the relationships they had with themselves, their families, and the world around them. 

I have seen the complaints about how all the back and forth, uncertainty, and pain could have been avoided if the two had just had a proper conversation, but not only do I think that was an impossible option for these characters, it was also beside the point. I felt the story was less about them as a romantic couple and more about them as individuals moving through their own trauma, presumptions, and societal expectations as they left childhood and became adults. The categorization of their relationship, as such, was just one part of this journey.

Normal People has many layers to it, and Rooney uses that space to comment on social norms, class division, self-worth, and bonds of all sorts. I was particularly moved by the stark contrast between the main characters' mothers, and could probably talk at length about this alone.

There is quite a gloom that settles over the story, and several triggering topics are portrayed in detail, so read with caution. But for those who love a good contemplative character study and don't mind unease, I think you will also appreciate the beauty of Normal People.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Grief, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Alcohol

Minor: Body shaming, Death of parent, Drug use, and Toxic relationship

vanesst's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Classism

Minor: Drug use, Grief, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Death of parent

jameserinoreads's review against another edition

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

4.75

Sometimes painfully relatable. As the author is Irish, so are her values and global political views, prepare to be triggered if you don't believe in human rights and socio-economic equality. I all seriousness, lovely read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Classism, Abandonment, Misogyny, Drug use, Sexual assault, Grief, Toxic friendship, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Blood, Suicide, Alcohol, and Suicidal thoughts

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

aherman18's review against another edition

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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Magnolia Parks X 100. So much better writing, better characters, more realistic

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Self harm, and Grief

jkschoen's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders