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jakepasseri's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
komiification's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Abortion, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Genocide, Racism, Xenophobia, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and War
mooncraftbujo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Xenophobia, Abortion, and War
packedjam's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Racism, Suicide, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Mass/school shootings, Abortion, and Classism
rubyreadzz's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Abortion
mary_johnston's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Violence, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Alcohol, and War
coraj's review against another edition
- 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
2.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Grief, Abortion, and Death of parent
Minor: Vomit
racheldiep's review against another edition
- 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
I can understand how people would see Normal People as super deep and think the main characters are relatable. They are messy, anxiety-ridden, bad at communication, struggling with low self esteem and making bad decisions because they feel intrinsically unworthy. The story is slice-of-life bits that attempt to capture very human and millennial struggles.
On the other hand, I can also understand if people find the characters too self-involved, co-dependent, and frustrating to be redeemable, relatable, or rootable (is that a word?) There's an interesting dichotomy: on one hand, this book could be interpreted as romanticizing pain, but it could also be interpreted as unflinchingly realistic and refreshing.
My take is that the story and characters are indeed relatable in the way that most humans want to think that they're significant and individualistic and interesting, but in reality they...aren't. Marianne and Connell want to think themselves as deep, the story wants us to see it as deep...but it doesn't do it for me. Some other cons for me: the side characters were cartoonish caricatures, the Marxist leanings (which I am a fan of) aren't the most subtle, and the scene with the casual racism just grated on my nerves. I get that it is possible, likely even, to have closeted racists in your social circle, but the point of tolerance made the character in question more unlikable.
Personally, I found that Rooney's writing is plainspoken, not complex or nuanced in any way, but it was still incredibly engrossing and compulsively readable. It's strange because I was not bored once, despite finding the characters to be stale (possibly a result of a lot of passive voice). The writing style and occasional quietly emotionally-charged moments were enough for me to give this book 4 stars.
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Mental illness and Sexual content
Minor: Racism and Xenophobia