Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Normal People by Sally Rooney

806 reviews

tankhalessi's review against another edition

dark reflective sad 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

2.0

Giving two stars because the issues the characters wrestle with is an interesting thing to explore with writing. I do feel like this is A Book Where Nothing Happens…it is highly character driven, but I don’t see a lot of growth or even *life* given to these characters. There’s very few details given about their interests, talents, likes, dislikes…pretty much anything outside the world of their (generally unhealthy and depressing) relationships. I don’t think a single character in this book even tells a joke…and this book spans years. The characters just feel very lifeless. There are some good and accurate bits about Connell’s struggles with depression, the awakardness of dealing with mental health, going out of your comfort zone to see a counselor, etc…but again, this never really affects the plot. No real world consequences are shown because of the issues Connell has. Marianne, too, is apathetic about pretty much everything. Sometimes people like her, sometimes they dislike her, and no reason is ever really given why. We get some references to her being very academically gifted, but never see her showcasing academic talent—or really doing anything besides drinking and dating. If you like pensive books this one may be for you…but you do have to watch the characters go through mostly grim losses, and even when they win, the situations are pretty much met with indifference. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence

Minor: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship

smitholivia's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence

aemowers's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence

aileen_macalister's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.5

Rooney's writing reflects the everyday struggles in a time in life when everything seems chaotic set against the backdrop of a traumatic childhood and complex interpersonal relationships. While I couldn't bring myself to like the characters, due to their horrible decision making skills, I found myself completely wrapped up in their story. 

The writing is fast paced and I enjoyed the flow of the book. Overall it is a story that leaves you wanting more and complex characters that explore the depths of human emotions.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Suicide, Death of parent, and Classism

sam_hartwig's review against another edition

challenging sad medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, Grief, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicide

slimejules's review against another edition

emotional

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

i'm starting to think i'm not mature enough for adult lit LOL

i don't like books where the characters end up exactly the same as when the story started, and that's exactly what we have here with marianne. while connell shows a level of emotional growth, marianne ends the story exactly as she began.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Violence

Moderate: Sexual violence and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders

ashlurtis's review against another edition

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

2.0

Flew through most of this book, loving it, only to be utterly disappointed by the ending. With a will-they, won't-they type story, you expect there to be a bit of a lack of character development, since the two characters clearly don't outgrow each other. 

However, these people were all flatter than a pancake. The only thing that changed from the beginning to the end was how old they were. I felt kind of like a frog in a pot of water that finally boiled over once the female protagonist started getting into some truly horrid abusive situations with various lovers. 

Don't let this book fool you. It is awful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Suicide

kylasmv15's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Alcohol

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Minor: Body shaming, Drug use, Eating disorder, Racism, Self harm, Blood, Vomit, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

sydlexi's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content

Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Genocide, Infidelity, Racism, Grief, and Mass/school shootings

i fear i relate too much to Marianne

lndmyr'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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence and Violence