A review by ilana_pop
Normal People by Sally Rooney

Marianne had a wildness that got into him for a while and made him feel that he was like her, that they had the same unnameable spiritual injury, and that neither of them could ever fit into the world. But he was never damaged like she was. She just made him feel that way.

Upon the first reading in 2018 I found this the most miserable book I had ever read and absolutely hated it. A point I've been standing by for many years and have made some enimies with (not really, but still).
Reading it again in 2024 I can appreciate Sally Rooneys literary genius (as you can tell by the quotes). It is still an incredibly miserable book and frankly, I still don't enjoy it. At least now I can see that's the point of this story. Sometimes a book just isn't made for you, but that doesn't have to stand in the way of your recognition of beauty.


There's something frightening about her, some huge emptiness in the pit of her being. It's like waiting for a lift to arrive and when the doors open nothing is there, just the terrible dark emptiness of the elevator shaft, on and on forever. [...] Still, he would lie down and die for her at any minture, which is the only thing he knows about himself that makes him feel like a worthwile person.

All these years  they've been like two little plants sharing the same plot of soil, growing around one another, contorting to make room, taking certain unlikely positions. But in the end she has done something for him, she's made a new life possible, and she can always feel good about that.
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