Normal People | 
pickLots of things were done so well in this novel -- the understated but powerful prose; the insights about gender, class, mental health, books; the kernel of the relationship and connection between Marianne and Connell -- but the depiction of BDSM, and abuse/trauma struck me as one by someone who doesn't understand the complexities, or is ignoring them for the sake of using BDSM as a literary vehicle. I loved the first third though and the ending!
"Generally I find men are more concerned with limiting the freedoms of women than exercising personal freedom for themselves...I mean, when you look at the lives men are really living, it's sad...They control the whole social system and this is the best they can come up with for themselves? They're not even having fun."
"Being alone with her is like opening a door away from normal life and then closing it behind him."
About to start my first Sally Rooney! This was a present from my brother in law for Christmas a few years back. I hope I like it. Wish me luck!
Rooney fans, is this a good one to start with?
pickI enjoyed this story, and the developing backgrounds of the main characters over years, but kept waiting for something that never quite arrived.
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️
My January #doublespin ~ I need to sit with this for a bit…so many things about Marianne & Connell‘s relationship just gets me in the gut.
Next up for #readyourkindle
I've seen a lot of love for this book but must admit the tag line of "A classic coming of age love story" doesn't really appeal. Finger crossed it is ???
@cbee
pickLoved this book. Connell and Marianne, the people that we watched, knew or were in school and beyond. At first I was skeptical about what I was about to read but then I couldn‘t stop. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me.
After 15 days in Ireland, i 'd call that a small book haul... Mostly restricted because we fly Ryanair...
Next read starting after tea. Library book had 2 week and not had chance to start it is the plan for later
pickWow, Sally Rooney crammed all my insecurities tightly into one package. Book is about the complex relationship between two people over the course of several years. Rich with love and heartbreak, loved every bit of it.
Why didn't you take Marianne to the debs you idiot...
This book is rich with love and heartbreak. My only question is, was I supposed to have these kinds of relationships in high school and college? If so I think I might have missed out...
After 3 years, we are finally getting a new Sally Rooney novel! I really hope it will reach the heights of Normal People. It‘s coming out September 24.
#SallyRooney #NormalPeople #newreleases
pick3rd book finished for #FabulousFebruary #20in4
I can see why this book has good reviews. Overall an enjoyable book, covering the relationship between 2 people over a period of time. Both are normal people with issues of own to deal with along with the relationship. You end up caring for both of them, but also question some of their actions, even become frustrated by them. I‘d like a follow-up book 5 years on to find out what happens to them.
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - My first Rooney.
Although this novel made me feel very melancholic, I couldn't stop listening. I was quite invested in the complex relationship between Marianne and Connell, as well as in the relationships they had with themselves, their families, and the world around them. If you love a good character study and aren't bothered by gloom and unease, I think you will see the beauty in Normal People.
(Full review linked in the comments.)
pickThis book took my heart and stomped on it. A character study on the relationship between 2 people over the coarse of several years, as their relationship takes many different forms. This is not a “romance” per say, because it‘s way too real for that. Sally Rooney explores what it means to be “normal” as an individual and as a society as a whole. You either love or hate it and I absolutely LOVED it. The message is in between the lines. 5/5
pickI was about halfway in the book before I got a late night tiktok showing the BBC miniseries and had to hurry and finish before it got spoiled! I‘m behind on the times for the mini series, but I‘m glad this BookTok recommendation landed on my page before I saw the show. I really enjoyed the time jumps in this book. I felt that the representation of young love, “right person wrong time”, was shown well through Rooney‘s writing. Excellent romance!
pickFar from perfect, I enjoyed Connell & Marianne‘s relationship. It‘s messy, and sometimes ugly, and often miscommunicated, but throughout it all, their bond is beautiful. I really liked Rooney‘s writing style and look forward to reading more from her. #Pop23 ~a booktok recommendation *I edited this to a booktok rec
Another banger from Rooney, thought I might prefer Beautiful World. I may need to think about it more before deciding.
pickI am coining the term “backstitch” to describe this style of storytelling, when there‘s a jump forward in time and then the gaps are filled in.
I found this a moving snapshot into Marianne and Connell‘s life and can see why it has won so many awards.
pickI absolutely loved this book. It has been on my list for a while and I didn‘t know what to expect. I loved how real and authentic it felt, and getting perspective from different characters was essential in developing the reader‘s deep understanding at the end of the book. This book was real, heartbreaking and beautiful
pickThis book dives into the hearts & minds of Connell & Marianne as they continuously draw closer & farther through their teen and young adult years. Although they are not always together, they are always in love. This book definitely focuses on the characters, since the plot skips around a lot! It is one of those stories where I just wanted to grab them and say, “this whole thing could be cleared up with one conversation!” Really enjoyed it though!
pickI loved this book so much the first time, I had to read it again and highlight all the parts i resonated with. I already can‘t wait to read this again, it‘s such an amazing book. I really feel connected to this book. I also just think it‘s amazing how much you can relate to one character or the other based on the focalization of the chapter.
pickThere were many flaws in this book but that is what I think makes it real. At first I didn‘t like it with lack of quotations but a few chapters in I got the hang of it. There are mixed reviews on here and I understand it. The end leaves you with questions but there are many relatable moments about about relationships, communicating, mental health. Real life struggles. It was complicated but I appreciated the challenges that come up in the themes.
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.
pickI have never felt more seen than at some points in this book. Love!
so-soNo, not the great read most describe this book as.
An uncomfortable one, with half empty stories and characters. The writing style is not my favourite but has some decent stretches. It‘s a very ‘back and forth‘ narrative that after a while starts to be just repetitive and leaves the reader begging for some original developments. The end could have provided this but it is just as dry.
pickDefinitely one of the best romance books read so far. The real situations the main characters go through is with no doubt the best part of it.
pickThis is going to be a very painful review for me to write. I am a very public and proud sally rooney hater. I think she is pretentious and boring. That being said, I love this book. It might actually be one of my favorite books. It‘s weirdly relatable, I actually want to buy my own copy and read it again and take notes. I think if I could only read this book for the rest of my life I would be happy. Craziness
If I have to work on a Sunday, at least I have the company of a book. 📖
pick14-5 Nov 22 (audiobook)
Wow - that was quick! I had not realised how faithful the TV show was to the book. Much of the dialogue seemed familiar and it was difficult not to picture the two lead actors as Connell and Marianne.
Very much in the vein of a classic love story with its miscommunication and flawed characters. I do truly hope they finally come together and live happily ever after. I am sure the book also has its flaws but I loved it.
My latest marketplace $15 book haul. 💚
pickInteresting read. I‘m not entirely sure how I feel about it yet, but it was definitely intriguing.
Can I ask you a question? Are you in need of books to read at midnight while listening to Taylor Swift's new album? https://youtu.be/C4ivgTb8Cog
pickFINALLY got myself around to reading a Sally Rooney book, and okay, I get the hype, for the most part. Connell and Marianne felt so real, even though we really only see them in vignettes, and I was so happy to see them finally grow and accept themselves by the end of the book. The best book ever? No. But still pretty damn good. #contemporaryfiction #literaryfiction
pick🎧 not really normal people … it‘s good. This is a truly interesting relationship & watching them through the years is fascinating. Adult
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
pickIts follows the relationship between 2 people who individually struggle with self love and mental health. Yet they always see the other as this beautiful aspirational character. And this combination of self loafing + admiration + inability to be vulnerable just leads to miscommunication n missing out on each other
It captures the nuances of experiencing great fear great pain and great joy all at the same time that is the human experience
so-soi am gonna be honest, this book isn't for me. The characters were misunderstanding each other at every scene. they didn't even knew how to communicate properly and the there were so many time laps like the author could have done so much better with this storyline this book was realistic, among the mental health issue and everything which i appreciate but the author could have done so much better with their backstory and this storyline.
so-soI think I missed the bigger picture here… great story, definitely a page turner, but felt like the end was missing something. Also confused by the lack of quotation marks in conversations
panThe only thought I had after finishing this book was: “please get away from each other and seek competent help.” This relationship was toxic af, and I get that that is the point, but it was done poorly and felt romanticized. ⭐️⭐️
panI kept hoping it would get better, I‘d find something in either character to like, or that something would happen, but it never did. This just didn‘t work for me at all.
#catsofLitsy #DannyBoy is recovering from a cystitis flareup, and is both mad at me for drugging him and needing comfort from his person. Lots of snuggles the past few days.
this is me rn trying to figure out how this app works…
also, i‘ve finished the normal people book yesterday and immediately had to watch the show. i really like it, absolutely recommend. the photography‘s amazing, mainly in the scenes on the italian summer. #normalpeople
