Reviews

Normal Rules Don't Apply by Kate Atkinson

mpeach's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted mysterious 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? No

4.5

cmtait's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious 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? No

5.0

chwissy3200's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

letmeinthelibrary's review against another edition

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4.0

What a FASCINATING book, perfect for readers who think they may not like short stories because they end abruptly because hey! The story isn't over, it's interconnected

simplyanothervoice's review against another edition

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2.0

1.5 stars

wingedhorse's review against another edition

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4.0

It took a while to get to grips with this but I liked it more and more as I read through the stories. If you don't quite get it at first, keep going. It is fun and funny, and as always with Kate Atkinson imaginative and thought provoking.

websterworks's review against another edition

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challenging mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

littoral's review against another edition

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3.0

NORMAL RULES DON'T APPLY is a delightfully strange collection of short stories taking place in an a parallel world where, as the title suggests, normal rules don't apply - the world is swept by mysterious culls, animals talk, and all other manner of strange things are underfoot. The stories are loosely connected by characters of the same name (who may or may not be the same characters).

I think the best way to read this collection is by embracing the surrealism and absurdity and going where the author takes you - the patterns of the world(s) are only gradually revealed through the stories, and efforts to impose a structure on the world are often thwarted. Favorites in this collection included VOID, an introduction to a new series of apocalyptic events that sweep the world, and SPELLBOUND, a fairy tale in a parallel universe that leads to a strange conclusion.

Thanks to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

bmoleski's review against another edition

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4.0

I get the feeling Kate Atkinson is cool as hell.

A diverse but uniformly clever group of tales that are able to strangely unify in the end. Every story is made of every story. Permutations, rebuilds, we're all from the same weave of raw material.



jo_ren's review against another edition

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4.0

(4.5 ⭐'s) Great collection of short stories. Some definitely better then others but overall very very good! Defiantly worth a read.