Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Normal People by Sally Rooney

805 reviews

the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

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

1.0

I have no idea what I was meant to take away from this book. The characters were uninteresting and shallow, I strongly dislike the writing style, and the relationship dynamic feels so overtly problematic with no self awareness that it was boring. I also know this was likely intentional but the understanding of BDSM was so rudimentary that it was virtually absent and that grated on me.

I really struggle to understand why people love this book so much. It just didn't connect at all for me, and I feel like I was missing something.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, and Classism

Minor: Racism

fire_wolf's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad slow-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

2.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide

Minor: Death of parent

gdulecki's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-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

3.0

I’m giving this a begrudging three stars - I did not like the characters, there were no quotation marks, and the writing style felt weird, but I also couldn’t put this down and read it in just a couple of hours because it was so captivating. I am so angry at the ending, Marianne needs some damn therapy, and the self sabotage and self degradation was so potent that I feel it in my bones after finishing the book. The way BDSM was portrayed was horrendous, and I think it was supposed to be??? I don’t know man I see why people really liked this but I don’t know if it was for me

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Classism

errie's review against another edition

reflective

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, and Classism

Moderate: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

wildflowerfieldsforever's review against another edition

3.0

This one is... frustrating.  I don't really even know how many stars to give Normal People.

On one hand, I liked that the characters were not perfect.  The relationships were not perfect.  In that way, it was very real-life.  This is *not* a rom-com, light and fluffy read.  I find those books very annoying and not enjoyable; so on that side of my opinion, I appreciated that aspect very much.  I kept listening because, despite my frustration, I was invested and I thought there was going to be an ending that at least hinted at Marianne and Connell getting better and figuring some things out.

However, there are a lot of damaged people in this book.  Again, how very real.  And, very bold of Sally Rooney to write this book... and, with no real redeeming ending to make it better.  Yet again, despite myself, I appreciated that.

Normal People is also disturbing.  Marianne's deep emotional issues coupled with how people (including Connell) treat her, is very difficult to watch unfold.  I wanted to reach through the pages and tell her to GET HELP, this is *not* okay.  Sometimes, I felt like Rooney was letting the writing indicate that Marianne's issues were okay.  But, she also leaves the ending very open and while Connell and Marianne are very, very young.  I hope that the Connell and Marianne that live within these pages both get the help they deserve.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence

tomomia's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood

Moderate: Sexual violence and Suicide

jakepasseri's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

I honestly don't know how to think about this book. It's certainly good, but I can't conceptualise my thoughts into words - I guess that's its biggest strength

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

sofagris's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

yourlilkiwi's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

adri_enne's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-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

4.0

I enjoyed this book in the beginning & midway especially the development of Marianne and Connell. I do appreciate how “bland” the characters are, the miscommunication, and the class divide analysis. Unfortunately, the ending for me just fell extremely flat and ambiguous. I wasn’t expecting them to ride off into the sunset of course, but the ending felt unfinished (maybe that’s intention idk). 

Sb: I must admit that I did watch the show after reading the book & it greatly improved my pov of the book!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide