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Reviews
Sally Rooney 2 Books Collection Set (Conversations with Friends & Normal People) by Sally Rooney
janneke's review
5.0
Everyone already told you this was a good book and everyone was right. Would've loved for the ending to be a bit more closed but it was still a good read (and ending).
karlbergarn's review
3.0
I had really high hopes for this because Simon of Savidgereads had recommended it. I did not at all anticipate where the book was going, with it’s twists and turns. I did like the entire middle section though, from when they enter university to when they hang out back in their home town.
I didn’t like the ending because I did not get how it tied into the rest of the book.
I didn’t like the ending because I did not get how it tied into the rest of the book.
thebookishmeg's review
4.0
“I hated them both, with the intensity of passionate love."
I loved this quote, and I also think this juxtaposition actually describes how I felt about this novel. Because, I loved it, but I don’t really know why. There isn’t really a way to pinpoint what about this book made me love it, yet somehow I did. I thought it was amazing. I preferred it to Normal People (which I did still enjoy) and I definitely want to read anything that Sally Rooney writes. But why? I really have no idea.
This book was basically just a student (Francis) having a continuous existential crisis for 300 odd pages (I relate) whilst having an affair with a married man. Said married man happens to be married to a woman Francis is introduced to by her best friend and ex-girlfriend Bobbi (and Bobbi has a thing for said wife). This novel basically examines the interpersonal dynamics between these characters, and Rooney does it so flawlessly and with such ease that it is fascinating. There is some social commentary, and it touches on students’ perspectives on communism, racism, sexism, class, and wealth, and there are some interesting discussions between the characters throughout the book. Beyond that, it examines the day-to-day life of a struggling student and the morality behind cheating.
I really love Sally Rooney’s writing style, and how she created and framed the narrative voice of Francis. I thought she was an incredibly interesting character, if not a tad disturbed. I listened to this as an audiobook, and I think that really contributed to my enjoyment of the book. it felt like you were inside Francis’ brain, listening to her thoughts as situations unfolded before her, and I found it really effective and engaging. Francis is a multi-dimensional character and at some points felt a little like an unreliable narrator because she is so consumed with her thoughts and her own mind that places and events seem secondary to her emotions. She experiences a lot of conflict; both with herself and the other characters in this novel, and the way she deals with this was interesting to listen to. Her inner turmoil and self-destructive tendencies lead this book down a dark route at several points, and Francis makes some very questionable decisions. It certainly makes for an interesting read.
The majority of this book is based on character introspection and is very character-driven, so if you’re not a huge fan of those types of novels you probably won’t like this. But, if you do, you’ll most likely love it, and I’d highly recommend it. I didn’t feel it quite reached 5 stars but also was more than 4 stars, so I settled with 4.5.
I loved this quote, and I also think this juxtaposition actually describes how I felt about this novel. Because, I loved it, but I don’t really know why. There isn’t really a way to pinpoint what about this book made me love it, yet somehow I did. I thought it was amazing. I preferred it to Normal People (which I did still enjoy) and I definitely want to read anything that Sally Rooney writes. But why? I really have no idea.
This book was basically just a student (Francis) having a continuous existential crisis for 300 odd pages (I relate) whilst having an affair with a married man. Said married man happens to be married to a woman Francis is introduced to by her best friend and ex-girlfriend Bobbi (and Bobbi has a thing for said wife). This novel basically examines the interpersonal dynamics between these characters, and Rooney does it so flawlessly and with such ease that it is fascinating. There is some social commentary, and it touches on students’ perspectives on communism, racism, sexism, class, and wealth, and there are some interesting discussions between the characters throughout the book. Beyond that, it examines the day-to-day life of a struggling student and the morality behind cheating.
I really love Sally Rooney’s writing style, and how she created and framed the narrative voice of Francis. I thought she was an incredibly interesting character, if not a tad disturbed. I listened to this as an audiobook, and I think that really contributed to my enjoyment of the book. it felt like you were inside Francis’ brain, listening to her thoughts as situations unfolded before her, and I found it really effective and engaging. Francis is a multi-dimensional character and at some points felt a little like an unreliable narrator because she is so consumed with her thoughts and her own mind that places and events seem secondary to her emotions. She experiences a lot of conflict; both with herself and the other characters in this novel, and the way she deals with this was interesting to listen to. Her inner turmoil and self-destructive tendencies lead this book down a dark route at several points, and Francis makes some very questionable decisions. It certainly makes for an interesting read.
The majority of this book is based on character introspection and is very character-driven, so if you’re not a huge fan of those types of novels you probably won’t like this. But, if you do, you’ll most likely love it, and I’d highly recommend it. I didn’t feel it quite reached 5 stars but also was more than 4 stars, so I settled with 4.5.
liati's review
4.0
I wasn't sure I'd like this book at first. The beginning felt very teenage romance, but as the plot progressed, the characters really developed and I started to really connect and relate. I loved the writing, which was both beautiful and simplistic at times. I loved this story as a coming-of-age story, as well as an exploration of complex relationships.
claire_reads_books's review
3.0
Eh 🤷🏻♀️ if this book wasn’t set in Ireland, it would just be another story about self-involved Brooklyn hipsters. Well-observed with some good dialogue, but nothing new or particularly interesting here.
mysticalartreads's review
3.0
A frustratingly riviting story about two people with real feelings for each other and yet because of a lack of communication, their relationship (or lack of) struggles to become meaningful and lasting. As the months went by in the book I had hopes the characters would come to their senses and be honest with themselves and to each other but everytime they broke each others heart over miscommunication I wanted to scream at them! The choice to not use quotations by the author seems to mimic the lack of understanding between the main characters when they are confronted with growing up and whether or not to continue their ill-fated non relationship.
prosewhore's review
5.0
Uuugh I had no idea I would love this so much. This book is everything I love in litterature, it's going to the favourites list right away.
It's a really modern story about the complexity of relationships and love but also one that I think could easily remain a classic for the generations to come -that, only time should tell-. The characters seemed so real to me, with all their concerns, problems, hopes and joys. I think it's something about the little details of their life, the intricacies of their relationship with one another that made it all so vibrant. It's a book that I found very hard to put down and that I would like to re discover at some point..
What a gem!
It's a really modern story about the complexity of relationships and love but also one that I think could easily remain a classic for the generations to come -that, only time should tell-. The characters seemed so real to me, with all their concerns, problems, hopes and joys. I think it's something about the little details of their life, the intricacies of their relationship with one another that made it all so vibrant. It's a book that I found very hard to put down and that I would like to re discover at some point..
What a gem!