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kathis_wonderland's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
One thing I am now certain of is that I am usually very unsure about books that won awards. I often do get why this book won awards and is so loved by many, but most of the time I do not really enjoy those books. This is why I also have mixed feelings about Normal People. It was a good book, but the story did not suck me in. However, at the same time, I couldn't stop reading most of the time. You see, I have very mixed feelings about this book.
For one, I liked the relationship and friendship between Connell and Marianne. No matter their downs and disagreements, they always found their way into each other's lives again. I was rooting for them! This is why I am not super fond of the rather open ending of this book. I want them both to be happy. Connell's mother is such a wholesome person. I adore her. She is a wonderful human being. One thing that bothers me is the big time jumps from one chapter to the next. I felt like I missed several aspects of the story that would have made it deeper. But then the book itself was already very deep and sometimes heavy to read. Some chapters exhausted me. And let's not forget the absence of quotation marks! This annoyed me the most as it makes understanding the text much more difficult. A big no from me for the absence of quotation marks.
All in all, I liked the book. I see why others love it so much, but I still have mixed feelings about it. Sally Rooney is a good writer, but probably just not my cup of tea.
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, Blood, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Abortion, and Death of parent
aegireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, and Classism
angryoppossum'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
3.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide
Minor: Death of parent
jasminealizae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
ladybergart's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Suicide and Sexual harassment
imanqblake's review against another edition
Graphic: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
sophccl'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? It's complicated
4.25
Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol
Minor: Sexual violence
vixenreader'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
4.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Biphobia and Racism
If you are part of the kink community, you should recognize that the masochism in the book is more of an unhealthy pattern in a character’s abusive cycle rather than a prime example of how consensual BDSM is actually practiced.james1star's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
After enjoying Rooney’s previous work ‘Conversations With Friends’, my friend said I might not like Normal People as most people apparently don’t like them both and I am so thankful for this revelation. Because I LOVED IT. My expectations were blown away. This book is just so well written with the two main characters - albeit flawed - being very likeable and you do really want what’s best for them… hint it’s for them to be together. The writing style is amazing, vivid depictions of believable situations and so relatable. As a 22 year old, I can totally see the same themes in everyday life and particularly taking the point that we really shouldn’t care/worry about what other people think of us - especially in school - because it means we don’t do what we really wanted to, we miss out, it affects our lives in possibly profound ways.
The book draws on many topics like classism, (toxic) relationships, mental health, sex, and more. I specifically liked how Rooney takes a refreshing approach by swapping the usual experiences for the male and female characters. Connell is shown to deal with mental health, his emotions and feelings are thoroughly explored, he is shown to care deeply about what people are thinking about him, his class and upbringing is discussed, struggles with toxic masculinity and male suicide, adult-minor relationships and sexual assault on men, and yes this is handled extremely well. Additionally, the sex elements are predominantly from Marianne’s point of view as such. I mean that her pleasure and desires are the main reason for the sex acts between them with little discussion on his enjoyment/needs. There are nuances and most of the topics are related to both (and peripheral) characters, so yes, a very refreshing and different take on these topics.
Normal People is such an amazing read, I really really enjoyed it so I wholeheartedly recommend it. It’s an easy read and very accessible to many people. I’d especially recommend it to those around Connell and Marianne’s age (early 20s) as it can seem very relatable but also those younger and I tell you now: take the opportunities that come your way, don’t let them go out of fear of embarrassment or what people think, it’s your life not theirs and go live it x
PS: Connell is so so cute!! Like oh my god I loved him so much, obviously he had flaws (who doesn’t??) but he was just such a lovely character. Put my faith back in straight men to be honest that they can be decent human beings. So well written I could literally write on and on about this book.
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, and Alcohol
jacob_longini's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, and Suicidal thoughts