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A review by mackreads324
Normal People by Sally Rooney
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I just feel like it is….meh.
I think the main characters are archetypal (see: the weird but special, ugly but beautiful girl) and the secondary characters are caricatures at best who don’t offer much depth to the story (for example, we only get fleeting violent outbursts from her brother), which makes these characters just seem flat.
Her writing style, while certainly unique, gives “different for the sake of being different while not offering much to the overall effect of the book, and making things more difficult for your readers”.
Also, serious issues were included without real implications for the plot, making them seem superficial and treated as a novelty. There are books that handle trauma well, and I don’t think this is one of them.
Knowing that it is supposed to not just be a romance but a commentary on social issues and class….and I just didn’t feel the significance. The political and social issues (see: the mention of the Gaza demonstration) were mentioned really only in passing and seemed like superfluous things added for effect instead of real purpose in the plot.
I ended the book with my main emotion just being “frustrated”.
Idk. Maybe I read it wrong, or what was how I was supposed to feel at the end?
I think the main characters are archetypal (see: the weird but special, ugly but beautiful girl) and the secondary characters are caricatures at best who don’t offer much depth to the story (for example, we only get fleeting violent outbursts from her brother), which makes these characters just seem flat.
Her writing style, while certainly unique, gives “different for the sake of being different while not offering much to the overall effect of the book, and making things more difficult for your readers”.
Also, serious issues were included without real implications for the plot, making them seem superficial and treated as a novelty. There are books that handle trauma well, and I don’t think this is one of them.
Knowing that it is supposed to not just be a romance but a commentary on social issues and class….and I just didn’t feel the significance. The political and social issues (see: the mention of the Gaza demonstration) were mentioned really only in passing and seemed like superfluous things added for effect instead of real purpose in the plot.
I ended the book with my main emotion just being “frustrated”.
Idk. Maybe I read it wrong, or what was how I was supposed to feel at the end?