From the Bookshelf of Sharing Thoughts about Books with Others (STBO)…

Normal People

Sally Rooney

Start date: November 1, 2021

Finish date: November 30, 2021

Discussion: Monthly Group Book Discussions

Why we're reading this: This is one of two optional books for our Book Discussion for November 2021
[close] This is one of two optional books for our Book Discussion for November 2021

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 22 topics — 234 comments total

Monthly Group Book Discussions

* The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Official book discussion for Nov 1 to Nov 30, 2021
By Richard Kenne… · 10 posts · 47 views

last updated Nov 17, 2021 03:52AM

* Normal People by Sally Rooney - Optional book discussion for Nov 1 to Nov 30, 2021
By Richard Kenne… · 7 posts · 49 views

last updated Jan 25, 2022 06:03PM

What Members Thought

Jun 15, 2020 Sheida rated it really liked it

I'm quite torn here because I didn't love the writing and this is my very least favorite kind of story - as in, I actively despise this entire concept from the bottom of my heart - however, there was something bizarrely touching about this one and the characters and their bond. It seemed real, they seemed authentic, and the insecurities they had felt oddly relatable for me. I found myself tearing up at random parts in the book, unrelated to anything specific that was happening but as a general r ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Jun 07, 2021 Tugba Oz rated it it was amazing

4.5/5

Daha önce dizisini izleyip çok sevmiştim. Bazı yorumlarda ise dizisinin kitabından daha iyi olduğunu okumuştum fakat katılmıyorum; kitabı daha iyi. Kitabı okuyanlar ikiye bölünmüş çok sevenler ve hiç sevmeyenler olarak, ben seven taraftayım.

Kitabın arkasında Rooney’nin bir kuşağa ışık tuttuğu yazıyor bu romanla. İlk okuduğumda çok iddalı bulmuştum fakat kitabı okudukça hak verdim. Günümüzde gençler arasında kadın-erkek ilişkileri eskiye oranlar git gide belirsizleşmeye başladı ve karşı cins 4.5/5

Daha önce dizisini izleyip çok sevmiştim. Bazı yorumlarda ise dizisinin kitabından daha iyi olduğunu okumuştum fakat katılmıyorum; kitabı daha iyi. Kitabı okuyanlar ikiye bölünmüş çok sevenler ve hiç sevmeyenler olarak, ben seven taraftayım.

Kitabın arkasında Rooney’nin bir kuşağa ışık tuttuğu yazıyor bu romanla. İlk okuduğumda çok iddalı bulmuştum fakat kitabı okudukça hak verdim. Günümüzde gençler arasında kadın-erkek ilişkileri eskiye oranlar git gide belirsizleşmeye başladı ve karşı cinsten biriyle yakınlaştığınızda spektrumun neresindesiniz bilemiyorsunuz. Marianne ve Connell’ın ilişkileri bu belirsizlikle başlayıp aynı şekilde ilerliyor.

Karakterlerin iç düşünceleri ise aralarındaki ilişkilerin çevrelerinden bağımsız olamadığını, diğer insanların düşünceleri, sosyo-ekonomik düzeylerinin eşit olmaması gibi farklı dinamiklerden etkilendiğini gösteriyor. Hangimiz sevdikten sonra durup düşünüp “elalem ne der?, ailem ne der?” diye sormadık ki.

İkilinin arasındaki ilişki oldukça toksik bir ilişki bu arada. İkilinin iletişimi o kadar zayıf ki sürekli bir yanlış anlaşılma mevcut. Marianne’in kaygılı, Connell’ın ise kaçıngan bağlandığı sağlıksız bir ilişki görüyoruz aynı zamanda. Aslında günümüzde y kuşağının yaşadığı ilişkilerin çoğunun “toksik ilişki” olması (tamamen subjektif bir görüş, kendi görüşüm) bence bu kitabın “kuşak temsili” olarak etiketlendirilmesine neden olmuş. Yerinde bir etiketlendirilme.

Kitap kuşağımın intihar, depresyon, sosyal fobi, anksiyete, sağlıksız ilişki, ilişkilerden ne istediğini bilememe, ailevi sorunlarının ilişkilere etkisi gibi birçok soruna değindiği için kitabı çok içten buldum. Marianne karakterinin özellikle lisedeki halini ise kendimle özdeşleştirmekten kendimi alamadım.

Marianne’in lisenin yemekhanesinde Swannların Tarafı’nı okuması ve Connell’la ikisi arabadayken Vampire Weekend dinlemeleri ise beni kitaba yakınlaştıran küçük ama önemli detaylardı. Proust okumanın zamanı gelmiş olarak yorumladım ben bu ayrıntıyı.

Sade akıcı bir dil, y kuşağıysanız kendinizden mutlaka bir şeyler bulabileceğiniz sıcak ve asla klişe olmayan romantik bir roman. “Normal” olmanın ne olduğunu ve bu kavramın günümüzde nasıl değiştiğini sorgulatıyor. Bence okuyun. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Dec 18, 2021 Zelda rated it it was amazing

“No one can be independent of other people completely, so why not give up the attempt, she thought, go running in the other direction, depend on people for everything, allow them to depend on you, why not.” (269)
beautiful. thought provoking. easily one of the greatest novels i’ve read. i will be rereading.

3 likes · Like · see review

May 19, 2020 matti rated it really liked it

I’m really wrestling with this rating, just because in a lot of ways I found it to be masterfully written in style, character, & ideas expressed— but the ending is just so disappointing. I understand the idea of not achieving a true ending in a book that chronicles a section of two people’s lives (as life is messy & ebbs & flows through various seasons), but I still believe that there needs to be some kind of catharsis.

That being said, as far as this novel’s merit goes— it has some of the best ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 10, 2022 Giuliana rated it it was ok

On the surface level, I can understand why people love this book so much. It suits its demographic in that it discusses the relatable topics of seeking to discover one's true identity, young love, and the general hardships that young adults face. However, it never criticizes Connell's and Marianne's blatant flaws. In a book that is purely character-driven, the characters are one-dimensional. Their only character traits are being outcasts (the author constantly reminds us of this, but never shows ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 27, 2023 Ali rated it really liked it

I can see why people hate this book. The characters are not extraordinary, they're not special. The title says it, they're normal people. They have quirks and problems and are confused about their direction in life.

I won't say this book changed my life, but I found myself relating to them both at points. This is a story of two confused teens who grow into confused twenty-something's.

I enjoyed the chapters being marked by passages of time, but due to the structure of the novel I found the flash ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 06, 2020 Kelly rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: library-loan, book-reviews, ebook, fiction

I just finished it. It was a pretty quick read. It’s a coming-of-age book that I think mostly resonates with “younger” readers. I feel so old but I saw references to Millenniums. I definitely have mixed feelings about it and find it difficult to write a review. The most annoying writing style from my perspective is the lack of grammatical form and punctuation. On reflection, it almost speaks to the uncertainty and indecisiveness of the characters.

*Trigger Warning: This story revolves around a c ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 31, 2022 Renae rated it liked it

Shelves: 3-stars

I went from wanting to DNF this to actually kind of enjoying it. I think this stems from the fact that I was able to relate more to the characters as they got older, and I felt connected to a lot of the themes that were more thoroughly explored in the latter half of the novel (how class differences affect friendships and one's sense of self, abuse and its relation to sexual dynamics, mental illness, etc.).

I still have problems with some of it, though.

TW: Talk of Abuse within the spoiler tag, n I went from wanting to DNF this to actually kind of enjoying it. I think this stems from the fact that I was able to relate more to the characters as they got older, and I felt connected to a lot of the themes that were more thoroughly explored in the latter half of the novel (how class differences affect friendships and one's sense of self, abuse and its relation to sexual dynamics, mental illness, etc.).

I still have problems with some of it, though.

TW: Talk of Abuse within the spoiler tag, no actual spoilers involved

(view spoiler)

TW: Talk of Disordered Eating within the spoiler tag, no actual spoilers involved

(view spoiler)

All of this to say that the characters grew on me, I enjoyed the themes overall, but I wish certain serious topics in the book were handled with more delicacy and consideration. ...more

Like · see review

Feb 26, 2023 Hannah Garcia Sadler rated it really liked it

I think what I appreciated about this book was that it wasn’t trying to be anything. Meaning, it was straightforward and to the point. It was simple and conveyed so much through its simplicity.

Of course. It did leave me very frustrated. I wanted them to get therapy and help. It brought me such anguish! I want them to gain a better understanding of themselves and their inability to grasp who they are just made me 😡 No resolve at the end. Ah well. This is the way.

Like · see review

Feb 24, 2020 eda added it

Shelves: dnf-2020

dnf at 128 pg

Like · see review

Nov 16, 2020 Iuliana rated it really liked it

Excitingly beautiful. The broken love between two teenagers that grow together through university. What I loved about it was the realness: every scene is discribed so simply and yet so beautifully present that you simply get lost in it.

Like · see review