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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What Members Thought

Apr 20, 2024 preru ♡ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, books-i-own

5 stars / 5 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Marianne had the sense that her real life was happening somewhere very far away, happening without her, and she didn't know if she would ever find out where it was or become part of it.”

I’ve always enjoyed Miss Rooney’s writing. A lot. I don’t know how else to formulate my thoughts but the highest amount of appreciation I can pay here would be that she writes in a way that just clicks so well with the wiring of my brain. Good or, Bad.

I’ve read conversation with friend ...more

14 likes · Like · see review

Sep 30, 2022 alifetimeofliterature rated it did not like it

Shelves: ragebait, dnf

No offense to a lot of people but this was one of the worst books I have ever read. I was pretty excited to say the least to read this book but the more I read the more I was disappointed and disgusted. Marianne deserved more than Connell and a lot more other characters. Connell could've at least for a second looked at Marianna as a actual person rather than a sex symbol because she was more than that. All women are more then what stereotypes base them as. Once Marianna allowed Connell to come b ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Jul 19, 2022 simran marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: aesthetic-victim, romance

Started reading: 20th July, 1.30 am

Sample review: this seems to be the kind of book that will make me regret the fact I like reading.

5 likes · Like · see review

Jan 22, 2025 minnah ☾ rated it really liked it

wasn’t what i expected, and the writing style was kinda hard to get into at first, but i enjoyed it. complex characters who go through varying levels of emotional distress. the on and off romance felt a bit weird for me. but i liked it overall. first time sally rooney read. 4 stars.

3 likes · Like · see review

Jul 29, 2023 Estefi Monte Bello rated it liked it · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

2 likes · Like · see review

May 17, 2022 James Cooper rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: j-ai-adoré

What a truly exceptional and captivating read. Normal People was honestly so difficult to put down, what a page turner. The novel follows the relationship between Connell and Marianne through their last year of school and university. Despite having an attraction and pull to each other at the beginning, their story is bumpy to say the least. Sometimes you just want to get inside the pages and shake them, scream at them to go for it and talk to each other. It really is so emotive.

After enjoying R What a truly exceptional and captivating read. Normal People was honestly so difficult to put down, what a page turner. The novel follows the relationship between Connell and Marianne through their last year of school and university. Despite having an attraction and pull to each other at the beginning, their story is bumpy to say the least. Sometimes you just want to get inside the pages and shake them, scream at them to go for it and talk to each other. It really is so emotive.

After enjoying Rooney’s previous work ‘Conversations With Friends’, my friend said I might not like Normal People as most people apparently don’t like them both and I am so thankful for this revelation. Because I LOVED IT. My expectations were blown away. This book is just so well written with the two main characters - albeit flawed - being very likeable and you do really want what’s best for them… hint it’s for them to be together. The writing style is amazing, vivid depictions of believable situations and so relatable. As a 22 year old, I can totally see the same themes in everyday life and particularly taking the point that we really shouldn’t care/worry about what other people think of us - especially in school - because it means we don’t do what we really wanted to, we miss out, it affects our lives in possibly profound ways.

The book draws on many topics like classism, (toxic) relationships, mental health, sex, and more. I specifically liked how Rooney takes a refreshing approach by swapping the usual experiences for the male and female characters. Connell is shown to deal with mental health, his emotions and feelings are thoroughly explored, he is shown to care deeply about what people are thinking about him, his class and upbringing is discussed, struggles with toxic masculinity and male suicide, adult-minor relationships and sexual assault on men, and yes this is handled extremely well. Additionally, the sex elements are predominantly from Marianne’s point of view as such. I mean that her pleasure and desires are the main reason for the sex acts between them with little discussion on his enjoyment/needs. There are nuances and most of the topics are related to both (and peripheral) characters, so yes, a very refreshing and different take on these topics.

Normal People is such an amazing read, I really really enjoyed it so I wholeheartedly recommend it. It’s an easy read and very accessible to many people. I’d especially recommend it to those around Connell and Marianne’s age (early 20s) as it can seem very relatable but also those younger and I tell you now: take the opportunities that come your way, don’t let them go out of fear of embarrassment or what people think, it’s your life not theirs and go live it x

PS: Connell is so so cute!! Like oh my god I loved him so much, obviously he had flaws (who doesn’t??) but he was just such a lovely character. Put my faith back in straight men to be honest that they can be decent human beings. So well written I could literally write on and on about this book. ...more

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Nov 18, 2024 Chloe rated it liked it

DISSERTATION PURPOSES
Whilst I love the series, I knew the book wasn’t going to be as good, but I needed to read it for research of abusive relationships for my dissertation. Whilst there is no physical abuse between Connell and Marianne, I can see they show manipulation as Marianne doesn’t have a stable family as seen in her relationship with her brother Alan.
⭐️: 3.25/5
📖: physical and audio

1 like · Like · see review