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germy333's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Mostly confused feelings about this book. You’ll either love it or hate it. I’m somehow in between, not enough to hate nor enough to love. Similar to the characters ironically, and maybe that feeling is what makes this book artistically confusing.
vdanielle's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
sydneythekydneybean'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
In the words of Taylor Allison Swift, "I think I've seen this film before, and I didn't like the ending."
Can someone please tell me how to talk about a book that they loved reading, but also hated every painstaking moment of it? Because I have no idea. Normal People is such an interesting book because it feels like something everyone is going to have a different opinion about and no one is especially right or wrong. Everything feels so nuanced, like every shade of grey in the color wheel. Do I love it? Do I hate it? Do I love it for the parts I hated or do I hate it for the parts I loved? Take the main characters, Marianne and Connell, for example. I feel so deeply connected to them, like I know them like my own heart and see myself in them, but I don't necessaily like them. But do I not like them because I see myself in all their "bad parts?" Yeah, I think so and that's uncomfortable as fuck. Their understanding of privilege and wealth, their view of what love and self-worth looks like, the submission and sometimes humiliation in their love. It's all so fucking uncomfortable, but I think it's all necessary to explain "normal people."
People hate uncomfortability. I'll admit that I hate it. I turn my back on anything I know will make me overly sad, but I also recognize that that mindset will only keep me stagnant. Connell is uncomfortable at the idea of other people knowing about him and Marianne. Marianne is uncomfortable about Connell seeing all the bad parts she's hiding from him. But because of this, they make no progress. They stay stagnant in their uncomfortable relationship and only when they begin to leave their comfort zones do they truly grow. Honestly, the ending of Normal People is the most beautiful part of the whole book, if only for the fact that it is dripping in hope.
(before we finish up, may i present a mini rant. although i loved this book, i cannot, in good faith, give it five-stars solely based on how the dialogue is written. nothing feels more pretentious then writing dialogue in any way that's not with traditional quotation marks. you're not making it artsy, you're making it harder for me to read and decipher what is speech and what is action. anyway, i just needed to get that off my chest.)
Normal People crawled into my skin and made a home there, and I do not believe it will be leaving any time soon. I feel like there are any number of reasons I could have hated this book, but I didn’t. I actually kinda loved it. It's weird, it's awkward, it's depressing, but you might find yourself in the pages of that book and it might have you look back on every decision you've ever made for the sake of being comfortable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Racism
emmak788's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual content
deziginer's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.5
ellis_celia's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
anna_banana2010's review against another edition
3.0
definitely see why people say this feels like a fever dream now
erinastin's review against another edition
5.0
(I was not writing book reviews the first time I read this, so the following review is based on my thoughts following my sept. 2021 reread)
This book is tremendous. I feel a visceral rush of affection whenever I think about it or hold it in my hands. Sally Rooney's characters are lost and in pain, and I felt the pain etch deeper into my skin with every turn of the page. I have a special connection to this book because I first picked it up during a very dark time in my life when I was struggling to justify the reasons for my existence. As cliche as it is to say, this book reminded me of the power of art: how it can wrap itself around your shoulders and say “it’s ok. I’m here. And I’m also hurting.” I will forever be grateful to this book and Sally Rooney for reminding me that beauty will continue to exist even in the darkness.
This book is tremendous. I feel a visceral rush of affection whenever I think about it or hold it in my hands. Sally Rooney's characters are lost and in pain, and I felt the pain etch deeper into my skin with every turn of the page. I have a special connection to this book because I first picked it up during a very dark time in my life when I was struggling to justify the reasons for my existence. As cliche as it is to say, this book reminded me of the power of art: how it can wrap itself around your shoulders and say “it’s ok. I’m here. And I’m also hurting.” I will forever be grateful to this book and Sally Rooney for reminding me that beauty will continue to exist even in the darkness.