Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Normalūs žmonės by Sally Rooney

299 reviews

martieliz'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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Misogyny

Moderate: Suicide, Eating disorder, Grief, Sexual content, and Blood

kcmag1's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

I'm not typically a reader of contemporary romantic fiction, but this book almost feels more like a poem or a character study than a novel. What a fascinating portrait of these two characters and their push and pull with one another throughout their lives. I found myself at times struggling to understand each of their feelings and motivations, but their characterizations became clearer as the story went on. This element seemed to bolster the idea that Connell and Marianne were the only two people who really knew each other. It felt true to life that their respective mental states cycled over time and that their inner feelings didn't match the way they were perceived by people from the outside. 
I could hear their voices so clearly in my head, even before watching the TV show, and they felt so real as people that it was almost painful. It felt intrusive to be an observer into their relationship. With Connell in particular, I felt his shyness and loneliness - as well as his desire to make the right choices  - like a knife to the heart. The dynamics of power, class, and intimacy between the two could warrant several dissertations, as I'm sure they already have and will continue to do for a long while. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Physical abuse

luxxltyd's review against another edition

emotional reflective relaxing fast-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

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexual assault and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death of parent and Infidelity

weirdf1shy's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

This book will stay with me. As soon as I started it I was wrapped into the story. The synopsis sounded to me like the average story of two young people and their drama but it is so much more than that. This story is beautiful and Sally Rooney told it in such a descriptive and raw way. I look forward to reading more from her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Suicide, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Grief, Pedophilia, Bullying, Cursing, and Mental illness

Minor: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Body shaming, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Infidelity

fabelur's review against another edition

inspiring reflective sad

• 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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Suicide, Alcohol, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

mainon_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Bullying, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Eating disorder, Death, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Toxic friendship

reemoony's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective relaxing 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

4.0

I think the main thing that drew me in from the beginning is the characters. I didn’t understand why it was called normal people until i actually read it. It’s because they are, genuinely, normal people. They have their flaws and their strengths and they suffer. Connell and Marianne aren’t written like characters, they are written like people. They go through their lives, drifting to and from each other. The love lasts throughout, which is such a human concept. When you fall apart from someone, the feelings and things you had and experienced don't just go away, they stay with you.

I also like how flawed they were. Connell was not a good person and neither was Marianne, and I refuse to believe otherwise. They had good characteristics and did good things, but overall they were not good, but in reality, no one is.

Also, one last thing. The lack of quotation marks is what made this such a good read for me. It felt more natural. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Classism, Alcohol, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, and Suicide

jaz777's review against another edition

emotional mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Child abuse, Suicide, Sexual violence, Grief, and Death

amandalorianxo's review against another edition

sad tense fast-paced

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

2.0

I’m not entirely sure what the purpose of the book was minus a span of flash forwards between two Irish characters who most likely should not have been in any sort of relationship together. Maybe the limited series was better?

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief

a_l_reads's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Bullying, and Mental illness

Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, and Blood