Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Normal People by Sally Rooney

438 reviews

annchmn's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I found Marianne’s family situation so unresolved and like a plot device. I really disliked Marianne’s character resolution, as well as her depiction as a frail and beautiful person descending into darkness … I found it especially jarring every time the author flat out wrote a description of what she was wearing and how she looked (especially how she just had to mention how much thinner and thinner Marianne was becoming) instead of being more subtle.

It was an interesting look l the way Marianne and Connell both navigated school coming from different backgrounds, but the rest irked me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism

Moderate: Sexual assault and Vomit

shiveryteacup's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, and Alcohol

chantalbech's review against another edition

emotional slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Alcohol

steph_phanie's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

Although this novel made me feel very melancholic, I couldn't stop listening to the audiobook. I was quite invested in the complex relationship between Marianne and Connell, as well as in the relationships they had with themselves, their families, and the world around them. 

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.

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Content Warnings

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

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

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

4.75

Sometimes painfully relatable. As the author is Irish, so are her values and global political views, prepare to be triggered if you don't believe in human rights and socio-economic equality. I all seriousness, lovely read.

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Content Warnings

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

aleilvandrea's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Rape, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Minor: War

sailorpisces's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, and Child abuse

jordan_noel's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad fast-paced

• 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 didn’t necessarily love this book. I didn’t really love the characters, and I don’t know if I really expected anything to happen. But I don’t think the book is trying to say there’s destiny. In fact, I think it’s the opposite. Sometimes people end up together and help each other and try to be loved by each other. They aren’t going to be perfect. And they aren’t necessarily meant to be. Sometimes it can work out for a bit and sometimes it doesn’t, but hopefully life helps you have a person to stick with anyway.

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.

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Content Warnings

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

adventurous dark 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

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