Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Normal People by Sally Rooney

291 reviews

rachellen's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense 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

Admittedly I had watched the show multiple times before reading the book today, so I’d lacked the urgency to actually read it. I am so very glad I have now. 

The show does follow the book but I found it so much more emotional as a whole to read the words said between Connell and Marianne. Particularly, when Marianne says ‘most people go through their whole lives, Marianne thought, without ever really feeling that close to anyone’. Also - ‘Marianne, he said, I’m not a religious person but I do sometimes think God made you for me.’ 

The reason as to why I love this story, and I wouldn’t change a thing about it or the writing, is because it is flawed. The characters are flawed through and through, constantly making their lives difficult because of the intrusion of their desires and emotions and hate. This is what it means to be a sentient human being. That is why I love this story. 

When I found myself on the final page I felt panicked at Marianne’s coolness, particularly after a bicker between them, but what she ends with saying ‘I’ll always be here. You know that.’ Was probably the most devoted, unprompted thing that Marianne says to Connell. 

I could go on for days. But I won’t bore any readers of this review. 

Please read this book, indulge. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Blood, and Sexual content

pau0704'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Really liked this book. It's very easy to read and very easy to follow the story. Characters are complex and really well developed. I really don't have much to say about this book except that I liked it a lot and the ending was not what I was expecting so I really liked that, always love when a book surprises me in a good way. 
Loved the writing style of the author. Now I get why this book is this famous. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Mental illness, Bullying, and Gaslighting

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, and Injury/Injury detail

harper11's review against another edition

• 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

1.0

One star because the only thing that pushed me through the trenches of this book was Rooney’s writing style. This book was completely and absolutely not for me, which is a shame considering the hype. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Body shaming, Physical abuse, Bullying, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Child abuse, Violence, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, and Blood

Moderate: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Racism

mangofraiche's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Body shaming, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, and Suicide

mandycantsleep's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Blood, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Vomit

itsrua's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Bullying, and Grief

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Minor: Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Abortion, Blood, Body shaming, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Panic attacks/disorders

kd1322's review against another edition

challenging sad tense fast-paced

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

2.5

honestly this book was underwhelming. some of it just seemed pointless and I don't really understand why some elements were only shown at specific points like Connel's depression at the end. The themes were interesting and I like the way the book was written with time passing as it does represent their relationship well. the author has written it fairly well with the ability to really take you back to the past from a present moment, get you engaged with that story then pull you back to the present. however, the ending was so open and the book really wasn't as interesting as I would've liked it to be.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Bullying, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Blood

orasmis's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Child abuse, Bullying, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Blood, Eating disorder, and Death of parent

maya_28's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Blood, Violence, Alcohol, Death, Eating disorder, and Classism

elizabethwb's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

3.0

Not an awful book, but weak and lazy ending. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Classism, Cursing, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicide, and Toxic relationship