A review by kellygorman
Normal People by Sally Rooney

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

i don’t know if this one was for me. this was another book that i felt like i could only enjoy from the outside, like my greatest enjoyment could only come from understanding why other people like it. i found this to be overall very truthful but pessimistic about human relationships. despite the fact that this books entire focus was on relationships, in my opinion, there was no actual love or empathy to be found. 

i also had trouble with connell and marianne both being seen as equally bad people, because i often felt connells mindset and actions were severely shittier than marianne’s. connell bordered on narcissistic, and marianne was at worst severely traumatized. i genuinely don’t know if either of them got what they deserved in the end.   

not a big fan of sally rooney endings, i noticed the same way with cwf that she tried to make the ending suggest the story will continue to repeat itself. all of her stories just feel like commentaries on society, and i’m not sure if i like what the endings suggest in relation to that. like people can change and improve, in my opinion, and shitty people don’t always stay shitty

now for some positive: this book was extremely profound in its honesty, even if that makes it difficult and unattractive, and the characters were some of the most grounded ones i have read in a while. for better or worse, this is very well written