cestnicka's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 stars. I am not sure how to rate this book which is why it's getting a middle of the road rating for me. I liked it, it provoked my thoughts and made me reflect, but I didn't leave me feeling any type of way.
This book is about the complex relationship between the two main characters as they go back and forth from friends to lovers throughout time. This spans from high school to the end of college and at face value it's a love story, but at its core it's also about so much more than that.
The themes it delves in to are so political, emotional and real, that you can't help but reflect on your own experiences during those times in your life. How you felt, how it affected the people around you, and how it affected all the choices you ever made. This is what kept me drawn into the book. The realizations you make as you read, and the questions you are asking yourself.
It was a bit messy and difficult to read due to the format. But I know all her books are written like that so it's her style, and once you get used to it, you realize even the format of the book is a symbol for how life is messy.
But I also had issues with the book as so much happens in the book.. but also the book goes nowhere at the same time. There really isn't a plot, this is just a character deep dive. It was a short book, so I was able to finish it, but if it had been much longer I don't think I could have finished it.
This is a work of literary fiction. So if you aren't into books that explore deep and controversial themes, and don't have a plot, it's maybe not for you. But if you are wanting to get into the genre, this is a great book to start it with due to its length.
This book is about the complex relationship between the two main characters as they go back and forth from friends to lovers throughout time. This spans from high school to the end of college and at face value it's a love story, but at its core it's also about so much more than that.
The themes it delves in to are so political, emotional and real, that you can't help but reflect on your own experiences during those times in your life. How you felt, how it affected the people around you, and how it affected all the choices you ever made. This is what kept me drawn into the book. The realizations you make as you read, and the questions you are asking yourself.
It was a bit messy and difficult to read due to the format. But I know all her books are written like that so it's her style, and once you get used to it, you realize even the format of the book is a symbol for how life is messy.
But I also had issues with the book as so much happens in the book.. but also the book goes nowhere at the same time. There really isn't a plot, this is just a character deep dive. It was a short book, so I was able to finish it, but if it had been much longer I don't think I could have finished it.
This is a work of literary fiction. So if you aren't into books that explore deep and controversial themes, and don't have a plot, it's maybe not for you. But if you are wanting to get into the genre, this is a great book to start it with due to its length.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Bullying
Moderate: Mental illness
carynlemon's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Good read! The syntax took a bit getting used to as the dialog was not in quotation marks and the first few pages has a lot of back and forth between two characters. But I adjusted midway through the second chapter. After that, I found the book hard to put down. It was a quick read! I wasn’t thrilled with the ending, but it was a gripping story and captured my attention.
A coming of age tale of class, peer pressure, and an exploration in why people behave the way they do.
A coming of age tale of class, peer pressure, and an exploration in why people behave the way they do.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, and Sexual violence
bookduck74's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
thedambookshelf's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Racism, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Injury/injury detail, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Body shaming, Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, and Suicidal thoughts
grumpyyoungwoman's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, and Suicide
brianna_moye's review
emotional
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual content, Alcoholism, and Suicidal thoughts
linuskramshoej's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Bullying
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide, Sexual harassment, and Suicidal thoughts
jennapfingsten's review
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Injury/injury detail
brontet97's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-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
I can’t articulate how I feel about this book… I don’t think I *liked* it very much, but also I couldn’t stop reading it? Maybe I came to it a couple years too late (post Normal People hype). The writing took a little to get used to but I really enjoyed the way the timeline was set up; super easy to follow. Finally got round to it though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse
cepbreed's review
emotional
sad
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
“Marianne answers the door when Connell rings the bell.”
I read this entire book while my chest was constricted. Each line makes me feel like I can’t breathe, like there’s concrete blocking my throat. Oh god this is so tragic. Each misunderstanding makes me want to throw myself into a wall. I had this conversation with my roommate about why Sally Rooney doesn’t use quotations before I began reading. She told me it’s because it makes the book much more intimate, the characters are more lifelike when they aren’t confined to the grammatical conventions of a novel. She’s so right. I didn’t realize I had a little implicit bias when reading, when I see a quotation mark it sends off something in my brain. Without it my brain must take that extra step to realize something is a quote. I have to think first for once, how insane. I still don’t like how it looks but thank you for this Sally Rooney.
Once again I turned to my roommate and had a conversation after I finished and she asked me what I thought about Connell and Marianne, well that's the basics of her question anyways. I answered honestly and told her I prefer Connell. Something about him is just so much more compelling to me. Sure I like Marianne, I sympathize with her, but I feel more pity for her while I relate more to Connell. We talked to through and I came to a conclusion that I guess says more about me than about the characters. Marianne is a character who is full of anxieties, insecurities and vulnerability. As a woman these are all things I hate about myself. Because Connell is a man I don't see his faults in the same light I see her's in. With Marianne a lot of my issue with her comes from the response I would have about myself if it were me in her shoes. Damn.
Songs:
I read this entire book while my chest was constricted. Each line makes me feel like I can’t breathe, like there’s concrete blocking my throat. Oh god this is so tragic. Each misunderstanding makes me want to throw myself into a wall. I had this conversation with my roommate about why Sally Rooney doesn’t use quotations before I began reading. She told me it’s because it makes the book much more intimate, the characters are more lifelike when they aren’t confined to the grammatical conventions of a novel. She’s so right. I didn’t realize I had a little implicit bias when reading, when I see a quotation mark it sends off something in my brain. Without it my brain must take that extra step to realize something is a quote. I have to think first for once, how insane. I still don’t like how it looks but thank you for this Sally Rooney.
Once again I turned to my roommate and had a conversation after I finished and she asked me what I thought about Connell and Marianne, well that's the basics of her question anyways. I answered honestly and told her I prefer Connell. Something about him is just so much more compelling to me. Sure I like Marianne, I sympathize with her, but I feel more pity for her while I relate more to Connell. We talked to through and I came to a conclusion that I guess says more about me than about the characters. Marianne is a character who is full of anxieties, insecurities and vulnerability. As a woman these are all things I hate about myself. Because Connell is a man I don't see his faults in the same light I see her's in. With Marianne a lot of my issue with her comes from the response I would have about myself if it were me in her shoes. Damn.
Songs:
- Casual - Chappell Roan
- Good Sex - Susannah Joffe
- Sidelines - Phoebe Bridgers
- About You - the 1975
- the 1 - Taylor Swift
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Grief, Injury/injury detail, Blood, Alcohol, Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Racism
Minor: Death