Ken’s review of Normal People > Likes and Comments

You aren't the last, Ken. I haven't and probably won't. Normal People is not a tribe that I have ever aspired to join anyway.

We exist yeah

You're not the last and after reading this I'll continue to put Rooney off. Thanks!

I wondered how you'd do with this one, Ken. Just about as I expected.

Of course those perfect dudes exist, Ken. What a question! Did you forget about me? 🥹

I do not have a 'romance' shelf' either, Ken. Thanks for the helpful review - one fewer book to read.

Fred wrote: "You aren't the last, Ken. I haven't and probably won't. Normal People is not a tribe that I have ever aspired to join anyway."

Ha-ha. I can see how "normal" is an adjective worth fleeing.

Lee wrote: "We exist yeah"

Great line, Lee! And congratulations, dealing with all those ladies banging at your door!

Paul wrote: "I wondered how you'd do with this one, Ken. Just about as I expected."

I'm predictable in my way (or so I wager).

Pedro wrote: "Of course those perfect dudes exist, Ken. What a question! Did you forget about me? 🥹"

Another! Damn, you guys gotta open a school for the rest of us (only my wife considers me "one of those dudes," but she's a paid promoter).

Kathleen wrote: "You're not the last and after reading this I'll continue to put Rooney off. Thanks!"

How many Rooneys have you ruminated over, Kathleen?

Laysee wrote: "I do not have a 'romance' shelf' either, Ken. Thanks for the helpful review - one fewer book to read."

I'll consider this a pubic service, Laysee. ;-)

I consider Rooney just the latest "flavor of the week".

I didn’t like her last novel, Diane, but calling her the flavour of the week when her debut will be turning ten next year, and she’s written three other commercially successful novels, two of which were adapted for TV, seems a bit far-fetched. No?

I was referring to the fact that her name sells her books Pedro, not her longevity. Some authors (such as James Patterson) bank on name recognition whether their books are any good or not. If you enjoy Rooney's books that's great, but I just know she's not for me. But then, maybe my age has something to do with it. Contemporary novels have been leaving me cold lately, I lose interest quickly.

Ken wrote: "Kathleen wrote: "You're not the last and after reading this I'll continue to put Rooney off. Thanks!"

How many Rooneys have you ruminated over, Kathleen?"

Three, actually. But now I'll put her in Diane's "flavor of the week" category. 😊

Diane wrote: "I was referring to the fact that her name sells her books Pedro, not her longevity. Some authors (such as James Patterson) bank on name recognition whether their books are any good or not. If you e..."

Ah, I see. "Contemporary" is a flavor of the week. Weirdly, I've enjoyed some contemporary books, especially from overseas (though I guess Ireland counts as "overseas," too). I'm thinking of Chilean Poet, for one.

Kathleen wrote: "Ken wrote: "Kathleen wrote: "You're not the last and after reading this I'll continue to put Rooney off. Thanks!"

How many Rooneys have you ruminated over, Kathleen?"

Three, actually. But now I'l..."


Fair enough, though I'll bet you enjoyed one of the three more than the others (and hey, the fact that you tried a second and third says something, too... in a quiet way, I mean).

Nicely put, Ken. I lost patience with this one too!

No, Ken, you're not the last. Still one here, in Canada. Sally who?

Robin wrote: "Nicely put, Ken. I lost patience with this one too!"


Books shouldn't need patience the way doctors do.

Julie wrote: "No, Ken, you're not the last. Still one here, in Canada. Sally who?"

Sally Who, I assume, is Cindy-Lou Who's neighbor in Whoville! :-)

Anyhoo, thanks for the company, and know that an awful lot of Americans are on Team Canada these days ("Elbows Up!").

Well stated Ken especially the last line on the title.

Ken wrote: "Julie wrote: "No, Ken, you're not the last. Still one here, in Canada. Sally who?"

Sally Who, I assume, is Cindy-Lou Who's neighbor in Whoville! :-)

Anyhoo, thanks for the company, and know that ..."

Haha. Yes, Cindy-Lou's neighbour. Too funny.

(And thanks for the kind words. 🇨🇦 🤝 🇺🇸).

Okay, Diane, but when you put it in just one short sentence, it can sound a little more dismissive than I think you probably mean it to.

Is she my favourite author? No, she isn’t. Do I think she can’t write? No, I don’t. Is she overrated? Yes, maybe a little. But so is Maggie O’Farrell (a lot!!) or Ann Patchett, and here we are throwing five stars at their books left, right and centre.

That’s the beauty of it, I suppose. We all respond to books differently.

David wrote: "Well stated Ken especially the last line on the title."

Thanks, David. If your last line isn't well-stated, you need to start over. That's what my 8th-grade English teacher told us (man, she was rough, and a tough grader).

Pedro wrote: "Okay, Diane, but when you put it in just one short sentence, it can sound a little more dismissive than I think you probably mean it to.

Is she my favourite author? No, she isn’t. Do I think she c..."

Give up the stars, people. Jiminy Cricket is now wishing on words, not stars. (But your point, Pedro, is well taken, the way stars are thrown about with little regard for fragile knick-knacks and furniture.)

Ahahaha, love this review! 🤣

Interesting point about Connell being an unrealistic protagonist! I definitely hadn’t considered that when I was reading. I guess a girl can dream 😅

Zakiyyah wrote: "Ahahaha, love this review! 🤣

Interesting point about Connell being an unrealistic protagonist! I definitely hadn’t considered that when I was reading. I guess a girl can dream 😅"

Thanks, Z. And I think Sally R. wanted her readers to dream along. (Why not, I guess -- escape literature.)

Ken, I’m afraid I agree with almost every word of this.😁 I spent most of the book wondering how two people could make something so simple look so unnecessarily difficult. And those men you described? I’m with you - I’m starting to think they may be entirely fictional. And yes, the title is the final joke.