A review by tfpjr492
Normal Rules Don't Apply by Kate Atkinson

challenging funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

•• S P O I L E R • A L E R T ••

Normal Rules Don’t Apply is a collection of short stories, some of which are loosely connected by characters and events. Far more interesting are several themes, which are prominently interwoven in the stories. 

Life-changing and abnormal or seemingly random events form one of those themes. Franklin, who considers himself unlucky, gets an abnormal tip at the racecourse. One of the horses tells him in the voice of his deceased stepfather to bet on him. Franklin wins a tidy sum. 

A senior citizen leads a very orderly life; perhaps his life is too orderly. His life is disrupted by a periodic cosmic event. An intelligent and efficient secretary meets an untimely death. Her spirit starts the afterlife in an unaccustomed state of confusion.

A retired school teacher habitually faces life with a smile and positivity. She has been divorced for 15 years. Her two adult children are present in her life, but detached. She is active socially, but her last attempt at romance occurred 3 years ago. She has been deserted emotionally. The antidote to her loneliness is a miracle. 

Franklin gets a glimpse of one of his lives from the perspective of the multiverse. His current life shows exceptional promise. His luck runs out when the periodic cosmic event intervenes. 

All of the stories are enjoyable and thought-provoking. This book is recommended for those readers who enjoy a challenging escape from reality.