Welcome to my book review of Sally Rooney’s Normal People! This book pulls you in and lets you experience this rollercoaster relationship through the brilliant writing of Sally Rooney. I know the reviews for this are very varied, but I really enjoyed this and will probably re-read it later.
Connell and Marianne grow up in the same small town in the west of Ireland, but the similarities end there. In school, Connell is popular and well-liked, while Marianne is a loner. But when the two strike up a conversation – awkward but electrifying – something life-changing begins.
Normal People is a story of mutual fascination, friendship and love. It takes us from that first conversation to the years beyond, in the company of two people who try to stay apart but find they can’t.
SALLY ROONEY was born in the west of Ireland in 1991. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Granta and The London Review of Books. Winner of the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award in 2017, she is the author of Conversations with Friends and the editor of the Irish literary journal The Stinging Fly.
I have had this book on my shelf for quite some time now and have previously watched the BBC series, so I wanted to read the book.
We follow Marianna and Connell’s relationship from their first interactions at school. At the same time, Marianne is a social pariah, and Connell is a famous star. Both are highly intelligent but from very different backgrounds and families. Marianne is rich, but her family are not particularly lovely. In contrast, Connell is poor, but his single mother is sweet and caring. Connell’s mother cleans for Marianne’s family, where their initial interactions occur as they don’t speak at school.
Their relationship is complicated and tangled; it’s not a traditional romance, although that plays its part. It’s a polarising read and one that follows the path of so many before them. Every new chapter is a time jump and alternates between the two main characters as we follow them through university and their young adult lives.
The two main characters are very awkward and flawed, making them appear more authentic. The story shows their thoughts and mental health issues. The other characters all play their parts; none of them is just there to add filler which is nice to see.
Marianne’s family, her mother and brother, are truly horrible people. My only negative is that some of the conversations between Marianne and Connell are a little stilted and that it doesn’t always portray their true passion.
Despite Marianne and Connell’s unwavering love for one another, this book doesn’t offer the happily ever after you may be expecting. Unfortunately, things are never as simple as you may hope, and we are left somewhat guessing the end.
This was a quick and compelling read, exhausting and draining in parts. The characters are remarkably persuasive, but their love is so intense that you can feel like you’re experiencing it with them. The on-off style keeps you on your toes, but it’s not a ‘normal’ romance; there are points where they each have a ‘proper’ boyfriend or girlfriend as well as their passion for each other.
This book pulls you in and lets you experience this rollercoaster relationship through the brilliant writing of Sally Rooney. I know the reviews for this are very varied, but I really enjoyed this and will probably re-read it later.
| Title | Normal People |
| Author | Sally Rooney |
| Series | N/A |
| Format | Kindle |
| Page Count | 288 Pages |
| Genre | Contemporary Romance |
| Publisher | Faber & Faber |
| Release Date | 2nd May 2019 |
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