A review by abbby029
Normal People by Sally Rooney

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It's a great modern piece on intimacy and how relationships with other people can be affected by your relationship with yourself. I love how mental health is depicted in this book - the narrative that something is inherently wrong with oneself is something that's touched on a lot, but it's not described in a way that is this profound, ultimate thing that always stays with the character and feels unchangeable. The author's tone succeeds in creating a flow between the narrative and thoughts of a a character, but also an overall storytelling tone that describes this feeling of ultimate sadness and self-hatred, which both main characters experience, as something temporary. The sadness and crushing weight of depression is extremely well described, but it flows well into the next seasons of their lives as they overcome these thoughts and the reader is able to find their happiness (or contentedness) believable just as the characters themselves are beginning to believe in their own happiness. 
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