From the Bookshelf of forever and evermore swifties…

Normal People

Sally Rooney

Start date: September 1, 2022

Finish date: October 1, 2022

Why we're reading this: botm for September, which we will be comparing to illicit affairs, tis the damn season, all too well, exi…more
[close] botm for September, which we will be comparing to illicit affairs, tis the damn season, all too well, exile, and sad beautiful tragic

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Oct 02, 2023 ˋ✧*⁀➷ ʙᴇᴛᴛʏ (med school got me good) rated it did not like it

Shelves: romance, second-chance, audiobook

oh look! another bunch of self absorbed idiots who were never taught to communicate 😮‍💨

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Jul 28, 2022 kashel rated it liked it

Two bitches with zero communication skills.

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Feb 11, 2023 sam ;) rated it it was ok

2.75 ⭐️ i genuinely don’t know what to think about this book, i had high expectations and i feel disappointed. the way this was written was kinda weird and i didn’t like the fact that it was constantly jumping i felt confused and like i had to continuously fill in the blanks myself. the ending felt very open, i don’t feel like the entire book led to an ending that ties together. overall, im not the biggest fan of this or the writing style but i think i’m still going to give the show a chance

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Nov 11, 2024 Fernanda Fonseca rated it it was amazing

Shelves: nov-dec-24

Normal People is a novel that delves deeply into the complexities of human relationships and the impact of self-worth on love. Sally Rooney’s story of Marianne and Connell is one of the most beautiful, intricate, and heart-wrenching depictions of connection and personal struggle I've ever read. The book captures the intensity of young love, but more importantly, it examines the ways people navigate intimacy, pain, and self-acceptance.

The relationship between Marianne and Connell is anything but Normal People is a novel that delves deeply into the complexities of human relationships and the impact of self-worth on love. Sally Rooney’s story of Marianne and Connell is one of the most beautiful, intricate, and heart-wrenching depictions of connection and personal struggle I've ever read. The book captures the intensity of young love, but more importantly, it examines the ways people navigate intimacy, pain, and self-acceptance.

The relationship between Marianne and Connell is anything but straightforward. Rooney portrays two people who are both deeply flawed and haunted by past wounds. Marianne, who comes from an emotionally abusive family, is brilliant and self-aware but feels unworthy of love and acceptance. Connell, though outwardly popular and confident, constantly wrestles with shame and anxiety about his lower social status. Their paths intersect and diverge multiple times over the years, each encounter pulling them closer in some ways and pushing them apart in others. The novel brings to life how these moments of reconnection can be as transformative as they are devastating.

Rooney’s writing is masterful in capturing the subtleties of emotion and internal conflict. Her prose is sparse yet devastatingly effective, laying bare each character’s insecurities, longing, and confusion in a way that feels achingly real. She presents Marianne and Connell as not just star-crossed lovers but as mirrors for each other’s struggles, each one needing the other to understand themselves more fully. Rooney's ability to create such dimensional, flawed, and relatable characters makes every interaction between Marianne and Connell feel urgent and real, pulling the reader into their intense and evolving dynamic.

One of the most compelling aspects of the novel is its setting and the social tensions that quietly underpin Marianne and Connell’s relationship. Set in small-town Ireland and later at Trinity College, Dublin, the book sheds light on class divides and the lingering impact they have on each character’s sense of belonging and self-worth. Marianne's intellectual background contrasts sharply with Connell's working-class roots, creating an added layer of complexity as they navigate their relationship. This element is crucial to understanding Connell's shame and the pressure he feels to "prove" himself, both to himself and to the world around him.

The book’s structure, with its frequent time jumps, serves as a powerful narrative device. Each chapter gives the reader a glimpse into a different point in Marianne and Connell’s lives, making the story feel almost like a montage of memories. As we revisit them over the years, the reader feels the weight of each missed connection, every misunderstanding, and the brief moments of joy that are as fleeting as they are meaningful.

Rooney also doesn’t shy away from the more difficult aspects of Marianne and Connell’s relationship, especially in terms of intimacy and power dynamics. Their physical connection is tender yet fraught, reflecting their insecurities and emotional wounds. Rooney writes these scenes with honesty and sensitivity, capturing how intimacy can be both healing and painful, a place of refuge but also a reminder of their own vulnerability.

The supporting characters in the novel add even more richness to the story. Friends, family members, and casual acquaintances are presented as more than just background characters; they shape Marianne and Connell’s experiences, often pushing them into moments of painful self-reflection. Each character, even those briefly mentioned, adds depth to the story, giving insight into Marianne and Connell’s inner worlds and the environments that shaped them.

As the novel progresses, there is a sense of inevitability and quiet tragedy. By the end, it’s clear that Marianne and Connell have shared something profoundly life-changing, even if it doesn’t fit neatly into a conventional “happily ever after.” Their journey is left open-ended, which makes the story feel even more real. This isn’t a love story meant to satisfy the reader’s desire for resolution; rather, it’s an honest look at what it means to love someone deeply, and to grapple with who we are when no one else is looking.

In the end, Normal People isn’t just a romance or a coming-of-age story. It’s a nuanced exploration of how relationships shape us, how past wounds inform our present, and how love, in all its messy, imperfect forms, is an experience that leaves us changed. Rooney captures the beauty and the ache of being human, and for that reason, this book feels both timeless and intensely current. This is a novel that will linger in your mind, and its characters will stay with you long after you've finished the last page. A must-read for anyone looking for a story that speaks to the deepest parts of the human experience. ...more

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