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A review by snorkmaidens
Normal People by Sally Rooney
2.5
I have such mixed feelings about this book, but overall I feel a little let down by it.
Slightly spoilery, but the way that Marianne’s experience (especially in terms of sex and the violence inflicted upon her) was depicted didn’t really sit well with me. To me, it was framed as an inevitable aspect of abuse recovery, rather than a complicated struggle she personally experienced.
Finally- one of the biggest critiques of Rooney’s work is that she uses her characters to impose her own political and personal beliefs upon, and I did feel this shine through a little bit. For such a character heavy book, the characters felt a little flat and caricatured.
Overall though, I didn’t hate it, and thought the writing was compelling! I wish there was a larger focus on the class struggle, in particular Connell’s experience as a working class person in a high class society / establishment.
Slightly spoilery, but the way that Marianne’s experience (especially in terms of sex and the violence inflicted upon her) was depicted didn’t really sit well with me. To me, it was framed as an inevitable aspect of abuse recovery, rather than a complicated struggle she personally experienced.
Finally- one of the biggest critiques of Rooney’s work is that she uses her characters to impose her own political and personal beliefs upon, and I did feel this shine through a little bit. For such a character heavy book, the characters felt a little flat and caricatured.
Overall though, I didn’t hate it, and thought the writing was compelling! I wish there was a larger focus on the class struggle, in particular Connell’s experience as a working class person in a high class society / establishment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence