librinania's review against another edition
4.0
i think it's most probably more than round 4, maybe 4.4 or 4.5 even looking at how impressed i was during the 80% read. more, i was excited.
this is my first time reading piece from sally rooney, i was once try to read the normal people but unable to follow because the loosing " " in the conversation irked me. but somehow i can manage to continue reading this book as well, and thinking, oh the unlimited speech mark actually gives me feeling there's no boundaries between speaking it aloud and thinking.
the plot is weird for me to be fair, and the trivial things around the characters remains trivial, not being weighed exclusively except part of where they make up their personality. i love alice and eileen, and what they have, and they seem normal. normal with their anxiety, their curiosity, their ideas, their want and need, their emotions. and i literally have the oh moments a lot. i really love the email thingy between them. some discussions, also the telling from first pov amidst 3rd pov. they knew better.
this book is actually disturbing me, the way it pictures normal 'people' and 'relationship' and some bad traits, some good traits, the awkward tenses. i once hate felix for his mouth but maybe he's just being the person he is. i can say, i don't really fond to the part from 80 to 95% of this book, but i quite settled with the resolution. it's like a red string of the chaotic lives they had. at the end, we're just blunt people trying to seek control of what we thought it's happiness.
this is my first time reading piece from sally rooney, i was once try to read the normal people but unable to follow because the loosing " " in the conversation irked me. but somehow i can manage to continue reading this book as well, and thinking, oh the unlimited speech mark actually gives me feeling there's no boundaries between speaking it aloud and thinking.
the plot is weird for me to be fair, and the trivial things around the characters remains trivial, not being weighed exclusively except part of where they make up their personality. i love alice and eileen, and what they have, and they seem normal. normal with their anxiety, their curiosity, their ideas, their want and need, their emotions. and i literally have the oh moments a lot. i really love the email thingy between them. some discussions, also the telling from first pov amidst 3rd pov. they knew better.
this book is actually disturbing me, the way it pictures normal 'people' and 'relationship' and some bad traits, some good traits, the awkward tenses. i once hate felix for his mouth but maybe he's just being the person he is. i can say, i don't really fond to the part from 80 to 95% of this book, but i quite settled with the resolution. it's like a red string of the chaotic lives they had. at the end, we're just blunt people trying to seek control of what we thought it's happiness.
alross87's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
madde_8008's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
maiya_from_catering's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
vahalaemma's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
seph27's review against another edition
5.0
Reading a Sally Rooney novel is like being forced to stare into a mirror.
The characters are awkward and unique. They are flawed and annoying and come off as pretentious, yet you do not hate them. You cannot hate them because they are just like you. Now most people aren't queer, millionaire, socialist writers as is one of the main characters, but I believe everyone can see a bit of themselves in Alice or Eileen, or Simon and Felix. The reason behind this is Rooney's unmatched gift for writing. The way she describes the slightest mannerism, speech pattern, and behavior is outrageously real and humane. These characters don't feel like characters, they feel like people—real people you would meet in a grocery store or know at work.
The dialogue is witty. The relationships are refreshingly modern. The characters are realistic. This book really is a quintessential 21st century novel because the depiction of human relationships are so attuned to modern experience. It showcases the fluidity, the passion, the ups and the many downs.
As for the plot: things happen I suppose. Although the book is about sex and friends and relationships, in my opinion it is more of a character portrait, and I appreciate it for that. I also love the slices of political commentary and general philosophical musings so aptly expressed through the emails as well as conversations.
Rooney is a very polarizing author, and I feel her writing is very esoteric. I suppose I could vaguely imagine why it wouldn't be someone else's cup of tea, but I LOVE it.
The characters are awkward and unique. They are flawed and annoying and come off as pretentious, yet you do not hate them. You cannot hate them because they are just like you. Now most people aren't queer, millionaire, socialist writers as is one of the main characters, but I believe everyone can see a bit of themselves in Alice or Eileen, or Simon and Felix. The reason behind this is Rooney's unmatched gift for writing. The way she describes the slightest mannerism, speech pattern, and behavior is outrageously real and humane. These characters don't feel like characters, they feel like people—real people you would meet in a grocery store or know at work.
The dialogue is witty. The relationships are refreshingly modern. The characters are realistic. This book really is a quintessential 21st century novel because the depiction of human relationships are so attuned to modern experience. It showcases the fluidity, the passion, the ups and the many downs.
As for the plot: things happen I suppose. Although the book is about sex and friends and relationships, in my opinion it is more of a character portrait, and I appreciate it for that. I also love the slices of political commentary and general philosophical musings so aptly expressed through the emails as well as conversations.
Rooney is a very polarizing author, and I feel her writing is very esoteric. I suppose I could vaguely imagine why it wouldn't be someone else's cup of tea, but I LOVE it.
ronyreads's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely better than Normal People. Rooney discussed interesting topics and the characters were great.
nataliem_98's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A beautiful dive into relationships, friendships, mental health and everything that goes along with them. Flawed and sometimes toxic characters stumbling through messy lives and loves, but ultimately helping eachother figure out who they are. Easy to read, not for lack of style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol and Alcoholism