A review by keiiiiiiii
Normal People by Sally Rooney

emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Sally Rooney had this way of writing intimate moments and realization in a matter-of-fact, that I surprisingly enjoy. Not a lot of writers can achieve that. I personally think its a form of internalization of how having someone effortlessly saying they love you and appreciate shouldn't feel so exclusive or something you have to grind for, and if you're a decent person then yeah, you should have at least one person who cares for you, simply because they care for you, not because you are sone characters in novel/film/TV. I think this kinda correlates with how connel doesn't feel that he deserved good things and marianne feeling that connel doesn't love her after all the years they spent together. 

The writing just can be inconsistent tho. Sometimes you're in the middle of something mundane then suddenly Rooney is ranting about some random politic shit that I don't care and I can't think how it reflects to the characters or the themes of the novel. And sometimes I just can't stand how the dialogue feels like the fantasy of white college-educated elites who scream on class or revolution without an ounce of self awareness, which makes sense considering Rooney was in a debate club and she studied in the irish ivy league's eviqualent. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings