Scan barcode
naoml's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Eating disorder
steph_phanie's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
vanesst's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Death of parent
jameserinoreads's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Bullying and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Drug use, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, and Alcohol
jordan_noel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I don’t think Connell and Marianne are good people and they’re not always good friends. Luckily, they still care about each other and help each other right before saving might not be possible anymore. Maybe we can’t ask for more than that in normal people. That’s just who we are, and that’s the best we’re going to get.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Drug use, Mental illness, Blood, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
arieljade21's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
lilias's review against another edition
- 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
2.75
We mainly see things from Connell’s point of view. His mom, Lorraine, is a wonderful person and raised him on her own. He has a passion for reading, literature, especially. He is a poor kid who is constantly surrounded by rich kids, and the reminder of his background never goes away. It’s exasperated by Marianne, through no fault of her own, because she’s a girl who comes from an exceptionally rich family. His conventional views keep him from allowing Marianne to live at her full potential around him. He won’t reveal certain weaknesses around her, making their relationship full of potential but always unbalanced. Marianne feels that potential but blames herself for them never reaching it. Her leap to self-blame is probably familiar to a lot of women readers, and it’s furthered by her family, which is abusive.
For some reason, Marianne, as a character, is not as fully formed as Connell. At times, it was as though Marianne was losing both as a character within the story and a character on the page. Towards the end of the book, I started to dread reading more. I usually read dark books, but the constant cruelty Marianne kept having to endure just wore me out. I wish Rooney had left it out because distracted from the central character studies.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Classism
In the beginning I kept thinking: When Harry Met Sally but make it shoe-gazing. Overall, I found this book to be both captivating and frustrating. I really loved certain aspects of Sally Rooney’s writing. Her moments that were here and now regarding Connell and Marianne were fantastic, and I reread some passages in awe of how well she showed the subtleties of human interaction. But I never really knew how we got here and there, especially when it came to Marianne. We mainly see things from Connell’s point of view. His mom, Lorraine, is a wonderful person and raised him on her own. He has a passion for reading, literature, especially. He is a poor kid who is constantly surrounded by rich kids, and the reminder of his background never goes away. It’s exasperated by Marianne, through no fault of her own, because she’s a girl who comes from an exceptionally rich family. His conventional views keep him from allowing Marianne to live at her full potential around him. He won’t reveal certain weaknesses around her, making their relationship full of potential but always unbalanced. Marianne feels that potential but blames herself for them never reaching it. Her leap to self-blame is probably familiar to a lot of women readers, and it’s furthered by her family, which is abusive. For some reason, Marianne, as a character, is not as fully formed as Connell. At times, it was as though Marianne was losing both as a character within the story and a character on the page. Towards the end of the book, I started to dread reading more. I usually read dark books, but the constant cruelty Marianne kept having to endure just wore me out. I wish Rooney had left it out because distracted from the central character studies.sofiagordonramsey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Drug abuse and Drug use
stephyrm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death
Minor: Drug use, Blood, Death of parent, and Classism
melodyseestrees's review against another edition
Library card expired and in the time it took to renew the card my library stopped carrying it. [50%]
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship