Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Normal People by Sally Rooney

1435 reviews

dhatislandbookworm's review against another edition

fast-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? It's complicated

2.5

I finally decided to read Normal People because I was intrigued by the plot of Intermezzo and I wanted to get a feel for Rooney’s writing. A few friends have also been anxiously waiting for me to dive into it. 

 

Now that I have, I can confidently say that I feel very indifferent about this book. 

I didn’t particularly like the characters, but I didn’t hate them either. I didn’t like their relationship, but I didn’t absolutely hate it either. (I did hate the constant miscommunication, even though that was sort of the main point. Sorry.) 

 

Everything about Normal People was just *fine*. The first 75% of the book for me was the definition of “yes girl, give us nothing!” 

Rooney DOES write very human characters, which I usually enjoy, so maybe it’s just this particular book. But I will be reading Intermezzoto fully determine if maybe if it was just the book or Sally Rooney just isn’t for me 🤷🏾‍♀️ 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Classism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

terrortwilight's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism and Domestic abuse

hannahp181's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

I really struggled to get into this book, to the point of almost giving up. The lack of speech marks made it really difficult to read at first but once I got into the style and started to bond with the characters, I got quite into the reflective style of the narrative. It was very melancholy, probably not one to read if you're looking to be cheered up, but very reflective and quite beautifully written in its own way. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment and Domestic abuse

jovanh's review against another edition

slow-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

2.5

Supremely dissatisfying. Character driven story in which I can't tell if the characters grow or not. They're messily realistic, so I guess there's that.

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Minor: Racism

komiification's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-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

Completely devastating how people can love each other so much yet can continue to hurt each other. Can never really talk to each other. Alongside this theme, as well as other points relating to genocide (which is still, upsettingly, relevant to today), and the way people now engage with literature without this political edge, this is, easily a modern classic. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Alcohol, and Suicide

Moderate: Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Abortion, Classism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Genocide, Mass/school shootings, Racism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Xenophobia, and War

mooncraftbujo's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

Do not get the hype at all. I like the reflection on toxic relationships but there is not a single character in this story that I liked or felt an emotional connection to, and I fully got the ick from none if the dialogue being in quotation marks. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Xenophobia, Violence, War, Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

sopheyy's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse

lisamcc9's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

jayekayh's review against another edition

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Sexual violence and Emotional abuse

dazzlingreader_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense 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

3.75

This book is good, but it didn't talk to me as much as i thought it would. In my mind the characters are well written but they are and feel so real you might think of bad of them just from their decisions.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Alcoholism, Violence, and Grief

Minor: Classism