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A review by laurennbrackbill
Normal People by Sally Rooney
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I heard raving reviews and read some terrible ones about this book, so I felt conflicted about reading it.
And then I found myself watching the TV show, which was amazing for me, but I could have seen so much sexual content. I found myself having to fast forward through a bit of the series, anyway, back to the book.
I wonder if watching the show first taints my perspective, but I think that the show is what drew me in and probably led me to enjoy the book more. Yet, it may have sparked some of what I didn't like in the book because I like some of the changes made in the show. I also think I would have been confused about the sequence of vents in the book had I not watched the show first.
I found aspects of both of the main characters to be very relatable. Clearly, they are not "normal people," but what are normal people? Everyone wants to be normal but being normal sucks. It gives people anxiety; it makes them shallow. It makes them place their self-worth in the wrong places. It can leave people feeling crazy when they don't fit the mold, which was one of the ideas I took away from the book.
<Not sure if this is a spoiler, but just in case, I think that also it's good to see how people may know each other well but still not understand each other. At first, I was so frustrated with how Connel and Marianne would always fall out and in! Most books aren't written like this, but I realized that this is close to many people's real experiences. Many people can't express what they feel, and many think they know what others feel. Connel thinks that Marianne doesn't care what other people think, sometimes that's true. But, she is only human. She does care. Sometimes, it's so hard to be with people we care about the most because, well, we care about them and what they think. We, at times, can be more relaxed around people that we don't care as much about because, well, we just don't care. And, this may be toxic, but it's reality. That doesn't mean it's the person you are supposed to be with, but it doesn't mean the feelings aren't real or that they are the only person for you. So at first, I was upset by the ending, but then I felt really empowered by it. I thought to myself, wow, they are really strong for that decision. That is why I think there was character development in this story, they grew together, but they don't depend on each other more for their happiness.>
As a lover of books and education, I was confronted with the idea in the book that some people like that only to inflate their self-worth basically. I felt ATTACKED (in a good way). There were many aspects of the book that made me question how I view myself, how I view others, and how what I experience translates into how I interact with others.
And then I found myself watching the TV show, which was amazing for me, but I could have seen so much sexual content. I found myself having to fast forward through a bit of the series, anyway, back to the book.
I wonder if watching the show first taints my perspective, but I think that the show is what drew me in and probably led me to enjoy the book more. Yet, it may have sparked some of what I didn't like in the book because I like some of the changes made in the show. I also think I would have been confused about the sequence of vents in the book had I not watched the show first.
I found aspects of both of the main characters to be very relatable. Clearly, they are not "normal people," but what are normal people? Everyone wants to be normal but being normal sucks. It gives people anxiety; it makes them shallow. It makes them place their self-worth in the wrong places. It can leave people feeling crazy when they don't fit the mold, which was one of the ideas I took away from the book.
<Not sure if this is a spoiler, but just in case, I think that also it's good to see how people may know each other well but still not understand each other. At first, I was so frustrated with how Connel and Marianne would always fall out and in! Most books aren't written like this, but I realized that this is close to many people's real experiences. Many people can't express what they feel, and many think they know what others feel. Connel thinks that Marianne doesn't care what other people think, sometimes that's true. But, she is only human. She does care. Sometimes, it's so hard to be with people we care about the most because, well, we care about them and what they think. We, at times, can be more relaxed around people that we don't care as much about because, well, we just don't care. And, this may be toxic, but it's reality. That doesn't mean it's the person you are supposed to be with, but it doesn't mean the feelings aren't real or that they are the only person for you. So at first, I was upset by the ending, but then I felt really empowered by it. I thought to myself, wow, they are really strong for that decision. That is why I think there was character development in this story, they grew together, but they don't depend on each other more for their happiness.>
As a lover of books and education, I was confronted with the idea in the book that some people like that only to inflate their self-worth basically. I felt ATTACKED (in a good way). There were many aspects of the book that made me question how I view myself, how I view others, and how what I experience translates into how I interact with others.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual violence
Minor: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Violence