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e28rika's review against another edition
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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
phantomeyer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
The public’s opinion on this book is divided, and so too is mine.
Perhaps easiest to first discuss is the writing style. While you could argue that the lack of punctuated dialogue contributed to the impression that each scene wasn’t so much a distinct event as a one of many moments in time, it seemed a lazy method to achieve this goal. Punctuate the sentences properly, and it would have been more obvious just how mundane some of the descriptions were. Not that mundane is necessarily bad, but it doesn’t sit well with me that this stylistic choice could be sufficient to turn mediocre writing into “good” writing. I will admit, however, Rooney does make good word choices, which at times lead to rather evocative passages.
Next, the characters. I’ve seen complaints that the secondary characters aren’t fleshed out, but honestly I couldn’t care less. This book is about two people, and it makes sense to me that others seem unimportant in comparison. But let’s talk about these two characters. I don’t think they are unrealistic, but their arc felt rushed or disjointed at various points. Marianne all of a sudden fits in at college despite an incredibly isolating youth? Connell is intensely discomforted at the idea of dominating through violence, but gives away his former misgivings about psychological dominance without any reflection shared with the reader? It felt like Rooney was missing opportunities to explore interesting themes that would have added more depth to the book. Furthermore, skips such as these meant I was unable to maintain empathy consistently throughout the novel, and Marianne and Connell are not easy people to read about to begin with. You can’t afford to lose a reader’s empathy when your main characters’ struggles (to communicate, to make good decisions for themselves) become irritating without it.
This leads me to my thoughts about the plot. As a general rule, I enjoy character-driven plot, but I was tired of the constant back and forth by the end. A correction: I was tired of it a quarter of the way in. Their relationship felt largely repetitive, and the change in dynamic in the final act was not explored enough. If I had cared more about the characters, the ending might have been poignant, but as it was, I was just happy to be free of joyless characters and a book that had not quite reached its potential.
Perhaps easiest to first discuss is the writing style. While you could argue that the lack of punctuated dialogue contributed to the impression that each scene wasn’t so much a distinct event as a one of many moments in time, it seemed a lazy method to achieve this goal. Punctuate the sentences properly, and it would have been more obvious just how mundane some of the descriptions were. Not that mundane is necessarily bad, but it doesn’t sit well with me that this stylistic choice could be sufficient to turn mediocre writing into “good” writing. I will admit, however, Rooney does make good word choices, which at times lead to rather evocative passages.
Next, the characters. I’ve seen complaints that the secondary characters aren’t fleshed out, but honestly I couldn’t care less. This book is about two people, and it makes sense to me that others seem unimportant in comparison. But let’s talk about these two characters. I don’t think they are unrealistic, but their arc felt rushed or disjointed at various points. Marianne all of a sudden fits in at college despite an incredibly isolating youth? Connell is intensely discomforted at the idea of dominating through violence, but gives away his former misgivings about psychological dominance without any reflection shared with the reader? It felt like Rooney was missing opportunities to explore interesting themes that would have added more depth to the book. Furthermore, skips such as these meant I was unable to maintain empathy consistently throughout the novel, and Marianne and Connell are not easy people to read about to begin with. You can’t afford to lose a reader’s empathy when your main characters’ struggles (to communicate, to make good decisions for themselves) become irritating without it.
This leads me to my thoughts about the plot. As a general rule, I enjoy character-driven plot, but I was tired of the constant back and forth by the end. A correction: I was tired of it a quarter of the way in. Their relationship felt largely repetitive, and the change in dynamic in the final act was not explored enough. If I had cared more about the characters, the ending might have been poignant, but as it was, I was just happy to be free of joyless characters and a book that had not quite reached its potential.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Grief
lookinabook's review against another edition
dark
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
5.0
This book fucked me up. Five stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Suicide, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
azilisssss's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Eating disorder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
mirandalikesbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
I felt like I was rooting for Connell and Marianne while at the same time not really knowing what I was rooting for. This discussion of power dynamics was really beautifully done.
But i have never read a book that ended so abruptly and i think i love it?
Honestly I did struggle with the dialogue not being in quotation marks...but I did adjust!!!
But
Honestly I did struggle with the dialogue not being in quotation marks...but I did adjust!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Classism
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
lagoony_snail's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
4.0
This is a sad look into the life of a hurt young woman and the young man she trusts. You follow the journey of their relationship with each other and with the people around them over many years. Harder to read with the lack of quotation marks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
cnh_828's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual violence
Minor: Sexual harassment
cpratreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
I loved this book. I read it very quickly, and would have had read it much faster if I didn't have to work and could have stayed up all night to read it.
I loved the narrative style, the two narrators, and my favourite moments were often when we revisted the same moment from both perspectives.
It certainly led to a lot of discussion with my partner, who recommended the book to me.
5/5 will read again. I really loved it. Sally Rooney is now an auto-read for me.
I loved the narrative style, the two narrators, and my favourite moments were often when we revisted the same moment from both perspectives.
It certainly led to a lot of discussion with my partner, who recommended the book to me.
5/5 will read again. I really loved it. Sally Rooney is now an auto-read for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual assault, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
defunctfridge's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
ada_elisabeth's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Oh boy, this was a lot.
When I initially picked up Normal People, I thought I was going to hate it. Why? Because of the distinct lack of quotation marks. Occasionally quotation mark-less books work for me, but it's a rare occurrence, and Normal People did not seem like the kind of book that should have no quotation marks. However, once I was able to move past the weird dialogue writing, I found this book to be... enjoyable? I am a firm believer that there are limited things on this earth more satisfying than finishing a book, so there's something a quite enjoy about quick reads, which Normal People was. I always feel a little like my nine-year-old self reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in one day when I manage to read more than thirty pages in one sitting, and Normal People really delivered in that department.
However, the more I read, the more concerned I became. Firstly, I have never read a book about two people who are so willing to let others walk all over them. What happened to strong-willed, independent people? I suppose Connell and Marianne were made for each other because of how passive they both were. Secondly, Marianne needs help. Girl is really out in the world thinking she's unlovable and deserves bad things because of her abusive family. She also knows she needs therapy, but refuses to actually get it for some reason? (Props to Connell for realizing that he needed help.) Also, I feel like Marianne had a whole eating disorder thing happening there that just... was never addressed? Like, several characters commented on how thin she'd gotten, she never eats a full meal and orders less food at restaurants, and she even states at one point that she doesn't eat anything between breakfast and nine pm. I feel like this aspect of Marianne's life (and how it was related to her other mental health issues) could have been explored in much more detail. Also, the fact that she actively sought out abusive boyfriends was incredibly concerning. Please go get help, Marianne.
Connell was also concerning, but it a much less prominent way. The way Sally Rooney wrote his depression was kind of humorous, in a dark way. Case(s) in point:
"Well, here I am on the floor, he thought." (Connell, on being to depressed to make it to his bed so he just flopped down on the floor.)
"'... someone who's going through a mild depressive episode could expect to see a score of maybe fifteen or sixteen.'
'Okay,' he says. 'Right.'
'And what we're seeing here is a score of forty-three.'" (Connell and a counselor on the results of his depression survey.)
Although these are far from the best quotes in this incredibly poetic novel, they were my favorite. In any case, I was concerned the entire time, but I enjoyed reading this book, so 4.25/5 stars, rounded down.
When I initially picked up Normal People, I thought I was going to hate it. Why? Because of the distinct lack of quotation marks. Occasionally quotation mark-less books work for me, but it's a rare occurrence, and Normal People did not seem like the kind of book that should have no quotation marks. However, once I was able to move past the weird dialogue writing, I found this book to be... enjoyable? I am a firm believer that there are limited things on this earth more satisfying than finishing a book, so there's something a quite enjoy about quick reads, which Normal People was. I always feel a little like my nine-year-old self reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in one day when I manage to read more than thirty pages in one sitting, and Normal People really delivered in that department.
However, the more I read, the more concerned I became. Firstly, I have never read a book about two people who are so willing to let others walk all over them. What happened to strong-willed, independent people? I suppose Connell and Marianne were made for each other because of how passive they both were. Secondly, Marianne needs help. Girl is really out in the world thinking she's unlovable and deserves bad things because of her abusive family. She also knows she needs therapy, but refuses to actually get it for some reason? (Props to Connell for realizing that he needed help.) Also, I feel like Marianne had a whole eating disorder thing happening there that just... was never addressed? Like, several characters commented on how thin she'd gotten, she never eats a full meal and orders less food at restaurants, and she even states at one point that she doesn't eat anything between breakfast and nine pm. I feel like this aspect of Marianne's life (and how it was related to her other mental health issues) could have been explored in much more detail. Also, the fact that she actively sought out abusive boyfriends was incredibly concerning. Please go get help, Marianne.
Connell was also concerning, but it a much less prominent way. The way Sally Rooney wrote his depression was kind of humorous, in a dark way. Case(s) in point:
"Well, here I am on the floor, he thought." (Connell, on being to depressed to make it to his bed so he just flopped down on the floor.)
"'... someone who's going through a mild depressive episode could expect to see a score of maybe fifteen or sixteen.'
'Okay,' he says. 'Right.'
'And what we're seeing here is a score of forty-three.'" (Connell and a counselor on the results of his depression survey.)
Although these are far from the best quotes in this incredibly poetic novel, they were my favorite. In any case, I was concerned the entire time, but I enjoyed reading this book, so 4.25/5 stars, rounded down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment