annika_vanlaer's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
“Marianne answers the door when Connell rings the bell”
This is how the book Normal People starts. This is how a very complicated relationship between two teens begins.
Normal People is a book written by Sally Rooney, that tells the story of two teenagers and their intense on and off again love life. Throughout the book Marianne and Connell both grow as a person while they’re trying to figure out who they truly are.
The message and the concept of the book has potential and gives the opportunity to create a good and well formed book. However, from my perspective the writer did not succeed in bringing this book to life the way it could’ve been.
I truly believe in the potential of this book’s theme and that it could create an enjoyable and compelling story, unfortunately this wasn’t accomplished.
First I would like to start by talking about the book's writing style. Throughout the book there were no quotation marks which made it challenging to read. It was difficult to see whether someone was actually speaking or not. What made it even more confusing was the use of flashbacks. This would happen in the middle of their sentence or conversation, as a result you no longer knew where you left off in the storyline.
Besides that, there were huge time skips between each chapter and as you can probably understand, is this a factor in the book that creates confusion while reading. Not only that but it leaves large gaps in the storyline, which provides an incomplete understanding of the book.
What I liked about Normal People is that the characters showed growth throughout the story and that they found their way into the world. They did have ups and downs, but this is something I really appreciate seeing. One character I really liked was Karen. To me she was a positive asset to the book, which is why I would’ve liked her to be there for Marianne in college and later in her life. She was in my eyes one of the better characters and better friends of Marianne, even though we saw so little of her.
Even though I liked Karen, I disliked the majority of the main characters, which is a huge turn off for a book. Obviously their relationship was very problematic and everything but healthy, but for me it goes beyond that. What bothered me the most were the main characters and their personalities. It’s in the way they think, handle and interact with other characters. It is not so much the theme, but the characters that added a depressing vibe to the book. When I read a book I want to be invested, drawn in and touched by the story. While reading I would want to be thinking about the story and nothing else, but with this book I kept wondering when the chapter ended and when I could quit reading. I was not drawn into the story at all, I was just waiting for it to be over. Which may sound harsh but for me it’s just the truth.
I understand why the book and its theme could be popular amongst many people, but the way it was written and brought forward was disappointing. Therefore I wouldn’t recommend this book, especially not to teenagers. Books don't necessarily need a happy vibe to them, but if they create a depressive feeling, it’s just unenjoyable and tiresome.
Feel free to read the book, if you think you will like it or if the theme strikes you, but it’s just not for everyone and that is something you need to keep in mind while reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
mila_laureyssen's review
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Normal People tells the story of Marianne and Connell, two people who grow close during the final days of secondary school. As they move on to college and careers, the two struggle to make sense of their relationship and their feelings for one another.
This book was very difficult for me to get into. I would mostly dread everytime I would have to read it. I think it’s because it was quite boring and the same things kept happening. The on and off relationship between Marianne and Connell was frustrating sometimes.
The writing style annoyed me as well. Every chapter was a time jump meaning we would miss several months. Which was disorienting. Also the lack of quotation marks bothered me. It was hard to tell when someone was talking and who was talking.
The side-characters were badly developed as in they were mostly one dimensional regarding their personality. Although the conversations felt realistic and were nice to read.
I wouldn’t really recommend it to anyone. It is a very specific audience that would like this sort of book, which I don't think any of my acquaintances are part of.
In conclusion, unlike what it may look like I don’t find this book the worst i have read but it was not in my interest and quite boring in my opinion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Alcoholism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship
rholmes16's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Reading this book gave me a little bit more information on scenes from the show. I will say that I found the book to be more back and forth in time making it more difficult to follow and seemed rushed at times compared to the show.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Sexual assault and Body shaming
mine_gerber's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
hancaavdic's review
challenging
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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, and Blood
what_lindsay_reads's review
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.0
I found this book to be really compelling, if not a little frustrating. The relationships feel real and the way that love is described has this nature-rich quality. I enjoyed watching the characters grow and it all felt fully organic.
Spoiler
I did not enjoy that the ending felt so abrupt. You watch the whole will they/won’t they but at the end there is no closure. Marianne lacks development but Connell gets to grow into someone. I wish there was a redemption for marriane and a conclusion to their relationship.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Mental illness, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, and Emotional abuse
brennsteez's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
- 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
Connell is like someone took a little tour of my brain and wrote down their findings.
I’m not sure if I would’ve liked this as much if I hadn’t already seen the show. Maybe because I could picture it so well, it was more impactful. Either way, I loved this. So many great quotes, so much relatability.
I’m not sure if I would’ve liked this as much if I hadn’t already seen the show. Maybe because I could picture it so well, it was more impactful. Either way, I loved this. So many great quotes, so much relatability.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexual content
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
kotahlotah's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Mental illness, Grief, and Classism
callieg83's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, and Toxic friendship
sometimesinap's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.0
It took me forever to get into this book properly! I’m so glad I gave it another chance. This book is heavy, even in it’s bright moments. The overall message hit home for me, especially seeing the dynamics of the main characters relationship from late teens to early twenties. I’d recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Domestic abuse