Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Normal People by Sally Rooney

86 reviews

jessicabearbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

"She was attuned to the presence of his body in a microscopic way, as if the ordinary motion of his breathing was powerful enough to make her ill"

Although I didn't love every second, this book is a masterpiece. Sally Rooney's writing style does take some getting used to and I was wary coming into reading this due to the drama about the lack of quotation marks in her writing. But I found by the end of the first chapter I wasn't bothered at all and actually liked how not even the reader knows exactly what it being said - thus reflecting the miscommunication between characters. Whether this was Sally Rooney's intent, it works, and I liked it. Please if you're put off reading this because of the style, just try. And use your own mind to decide if it works for you or not, do not let TikTok and others decide for you!

The romance is raw and frustrating. It's definitely there and it's challenging and it's sort of cute. Marianne and Connell are definitely difficult to like, as are all the characters, apart from Lorraine. The characters all had depth and I was actually frustrated not to have more backstory as to the 'why' and intentions for a lot of character's actions. Which again, was annoying but adds to the overall confusion and miscommunication. Could I justify everything Sally Rooney has chosen to do in this book? Absolutely. But that's real life and this is a story about real experiences and real people - Normal people if you will. 

"I don't know what's wrong with me. I don't know why I can't be like normal people."

The quotes are beautiful and heartbreaking, mainly because I saw myself a lot more than I expected to throughout this story. This book definitely makes the reader feel as though they are looking in a mirror, or stood on a stage infant of everyone else. I felt exposed but safe at the same time as I could read about these dramas and heartaches happening to characters that I could see around me in the real world. I chose to annotate and used a tab for "Human Condition" which got its fair share. Sally Rooney exposes humanity and the thoughts that a lot of us choose to hide, believing foolishly that we are individual and alone in thinking them. 

Part of me feels even more lost after reading this, and part of me feels found.

"But it wasn't accompanied by any specific images of what real life might look like or feel like. All she knew was that when it started, she wouldn't need to imagine it anymore".

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Classism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol

Minor: Rape, Self harm, and Blood

miuku's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

laasenpai's review against another edition

challenging reflective tense fast-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

I love this book! It’s written in chucks of passing time. The characters are intelligent and believable. A beautiful love story. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse

Minor: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

criscroscris's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Abandonment

Moderate: Death of parent

linthemountains's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, and Gaslighting

itsaromance's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.5

Expected a romcom, found a deep and emotional story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

rhubarbpi3's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I thought this was well executed and everything I just thought it would be happy but it just made me really sad. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

hannahreadsawholelot's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This novel made me look at the relationships and trauma I've experienced in my own life, and really assess how I'm dealing with those things, and reframing my life, motivations, and mentality surrounding them. I think everyone should read this book, as it discusses very important things, but it is not an easy read if not prepared to look inward. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

mmm_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional tense 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Abandonment

worsecatch's review against another edition

emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

Its writted really well. I enjoyed it but I was expecting so much more from this book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Rape