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A review by theguildwriter
Normal People by Sally Rooney
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What makes Normal People stand out is the rawness of its approach to a classic literary trope: miscommunication. Connell and Marianne's miscommunication revolves around their need to keep their relationship private from others. But it's not the relationship that brings shame or uncertainty; it is their truest selves, which each of them feels in some way is unworthy of love. They feel accepted, understood, and at peace with one another, yet they still fear communicating certain parts of themselves to the other due to the risk of losing them forever. In Connell's mind, Marianne is a better person than he is, cares for him more, cares for him too much, even, and would do whatever he wanted if he asked it. This racks him with guilt, and it makes him fear who he is with Marianne. Marianne, on the other hand, sees herself as unworthy of love, and Connell's need for privacy for them speaks to her deepest fear.
The storytelling of Sally Rooney makes the novel shine. Every line feels important, every moment feels crisp and like it's happening right that second, and the intricacy of her approach to mental health from both male and female perspectives brings the novel higher. She doesn't attempt to clinically explain what the characters are going through; she instead lets them navigate the snarls of their own emotions and lets the reader connect with their rawest moments. The pacing of the novel, skipping over periods of time and taking moments to jump back and fill in with little anecdotes for context to the broader chapter, feels like life. Some of the moments don't jump out the second they happen; their importance only comes back as echoes when their relevance finally becomes clear.
Connell and Marianne feel real, and their love for each other transcends their darkest moments. It is never perfect, but it is always there and is always true in that loving each other doesn't always mean having each other.
I think most people can pick up Normal People and feel seen in one way or another. Sally Rooney has written a story that can resonate with anyone who's been in love, has lost love, or has felt unworthy of love.
Also, listen to Merry Christmas, Please Don't Call when reading this book.
Spoilers! Some thoughts:
Two moments that jump out to me time and time again:
- Helen saying that Connell looked handsome before the funeral and his reaction to it. I related to that so deeply, and I felt that it went to show that sometimes the people who make you feel better about yourself in the good times don't always know how to be there for you in the bad times. We don't get much of an in-depth look at Helen, though we do see she has a tendency towards lashing out when she feels threatened (i.e. jealousy towards Marianne). She came across as someone who was charming, socially acceptable, smart, and made Connell feel like a more polished version of himself, but I think she just was another version of Rachel: someone society would approve of him being with (in Connell's head).
- Connell finding out about Marianne's abuse and feeling guilty for always thinking of her as damaged... because he was right. What he feels is so complex and yet is gotten across in so few words by Rooney. Knowing that he had judged someone he loved, had deemed her in a way unworthy even if he wouldn't quite say it, because he assumed she was damaged, and then he found out he was right and that she had been suffering all that time and hadn't wanted to tell him because that was exactly what she had feared the whole time! That's a different kind of guilt and pain, and it's communicated so swiftly in the text because Rooney builds their characters, emotions, and relationship brick by brick the whole time. It was a painful but expertly done scene.
The storytelling of Sally Rooney makes the novel shine. Every line feels important, every moment feels crisp and like it's happening right that second, and the intricacy of her approach to mental health from both male and female perspectives brings the novel higher. She doesn't attempt to clinically explain what the characters are going through; she instead lets them navigate the snarls of their own emotions and lets the reader connect with their rawest moments. The pacing of the novel, skipping over periods of time and taking moments to jump back and fill in with little anecdotes for context to the broader chapter, feels like life. Some of the moments don't jump out the second they happen; their importance only comes back as echoes when their relevance finally becomes clear.
Connell and Marianne feel real, and their love for each other transcends their darkest moments. It is never perfect, but it is always there and is always true in that loving each other doesn't always mean having each other.
I think most people can pick up Normal People and feel seen in one way or another. Sally Rooney has written a story that can resonate with anyone who's been in love, has lost love, or has felt unworthy of love.
Also, listen to Merry Christmas, Please Don't Call when reading this book.
Spoilers! Some thoughts:
- Helen saying that Connell looked handsome before the funeral and his reaction to it. I related to that so deeply, and I felt that it went to show that sometimes the people who make you feel better about yourself in the good times don't always know how to be there for you in the bad times. We don't get much of an in-depth look at Helen, though we do see she has a tendency towards lashing out when she feels threatened (i.e. jealousy towards Marianne). She came across as someone who was charming, socially acceptable, smart, and made Connell feel like a more polished version of himself, but I think she just was another version of Rachel: someone society would approve of him being with (in Connell's head).
- Connell finding out about Marianne's abuse and feeling guilty for always thinking of her as damaged... because he was right. What he feels is so complex and yet is gotten across in so few words by Rooney. Knowing that he had judged someone he loved, had deemed her in a way unworthy even if he wouldn't quite say it, because he assumed she was damaged, and then he found out he was right and that she had been suffering all that time and hadn't wanted to tell him because that was exactly what she had feared the whole time! That's a different kind of guilt and pain, and it's communicated so swiftly in the text because Rooney builds their characters, emotions, and relationship brick by brick the whole time. It was a painful but expertly done scene.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Suicide