A review by stjohnswarts
Normal People by Sally Rooney

emotional reflective 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

3.5

quick, pleasurable read, despite how dark it is at times. i resonated with certain aspects of Marianne’s character - the paradoxical relationship between her tendency to gravitate toward people who abuse her, even seeming to seek out abuse at times, and her complete disinterest in changing in response to others’ judgments of her. i love the contrast between her self-image and her awareness of other people’s perception of her. there were parts of the book that felt a little forced, but rooney has some interesting things to say and i enjoyed reading about them through this story.
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