Summary
Normal People, Sally Rooney's critically acclaimed second novel, took the literary world by storm upon its release in 2018. Set in Ireland, this poignant exploration of young love, power dynamics, and class differences became an instant bestseller, won the Costa Book Award for Best Novel, among other awards, and was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. In 2020, the novel was adapted into a television miniseries for BBC Three and Hulu, and received four Emmy nominations.
Plot
Normal People follows the complex relationship between Connell and Marianne from their teenage years through early adulthood. The story begins in a small town in County Sligo, Ireland, where Connell is a popular high school student, while Marianne is an outcast. Connell's mother works as a cleaner for Marianne's wealthy family, highlighting the class divide between them. Despite their differences in social status, Connell and Marianne develop a secret intimate relationship.
As they move on to Trinity College in Dublin, their roles somewhat reverse. Marianne flourishes in the university environment, finding her social footing, while Connell struggles to adapt. Throughout their college years, Connell and Marianne's lives continue to intersect as they navigate relationships with others and face personal challenges. Their connection remains strong, drawing them back to each other time and again, despite their efforts to move on.
The novel explores how their relationship evolves as Connell and Marianne mature, confront their insecurities, and deal with the impact of their different backgrounds and home lives. As Connell and Marianne grapple with their feelings for each other and their individual struggles, Normal People delves into themes of love, power, abuse, class division, and self-discovery. The story spans several years, following the pair as they weave in and out of each other's lives. While Sally Rooney does not wrap everything up with a happily-ever-after ending, readers leave Connell and Marianne knowing that they truly love one another and, whatever happens, they will be okay.
Themes
Complex dynamics of teenage relationships
Impact of social class differences
Coming of age and self-discovery
Power dynamics in intimate relationships
Mental health and personal struggles
Communication and miscommunication
Identity formation in early adulthood
Setting
Set primarily in Ireland, Normal People takes place in the early 2010s, against the backdrop of the post-2008 economic downturn. The story begins in the fictional small town of Carricklea in County Sligo, where the protagonists, Connell and Marianne, attend secondary school. This rural setting provides a stark contrast to their later experiences and highlights the socioeconomic divisions that play a crucial role in the narrative.
As Connell and Marianne move to Dublin to attend Trinity College, the urban landscape becomes a central element of the story. The bustling capital city serves as a catalyst for change and personal growth, offering new opportunities and challenges for each of them. The university setting, with its prestigious reputation and diverse student body, becomes a microcosm of wider societal structures and class dynamics.
Throughout the novel, Sally Rooney deftly navigates between these two distinct environments, using the geographic shift to underscore the characters' evolving relationships and personal journeys. The contrast between rural Sligo and cosmopolitan Dublin mirrors the internal conflicts and transformations experienced by Connell and Marianne as they navigate their complex bond over several years.
Characters
Connell Waldron: The male protagonist. A popular, intelligent but insecure young man from a working-class background who enjoys popularity in his small-town high school but later struggles with communication and fitting in at university.
Marianne Sheridan: The female protagonist. An intelligent, wealthy but socially isolated young woman who blossoms at university but deals with personal trauma and destructive relationships.
Lorraine Waldron: Connell's mother, a kind and supportive single parent, who works as a cleaner for Marianne's family and befriends Marianne.
Denise Sheridan: Marianne's cold and neglectful mother, who comes from a wealthy family and places a priority on appearances.
Alan Sheridan: Marianne's abusive older brother, who contributes to her troubled home life.
Rob Hegarty: Connell's close friend from school who struggles with depression.
Peggy: One of Marianne's friends at Trinity College, part of her wealthy social circle.
Joanna: Another of Marianne's friends at Trinity, who is more sympathetic to Connell.
Jamie: A wealthy, arrogant student who dates Marianne for a period at Trinity and treats her badly.
Helen: Connell's kind and supportive girlfriend during part of his time at Trinity. They briefly enjoy an uncomplicated relationship.
Quick facts
Sally Rooney wrote the first draft of Normal People in just three months.
The novel is set in the fictional town of Carricklea in County Sligo, which is based on Rooney's hometown of Castlebar in County Mayo, Ireland.
The novel explores themes of class, politics, domestic abuse, and mental health alongside its central love story.
Normal People won the Costa Book Award for Best Novel in 2018 and Book of the Year at the British Book Awards in 2019.
Normal People was adapted into a critically acclaimed 12-part television series for BBC Three and Hulu in 2020. The series received four Emmy nominations.
Rooney co-wrote several episodes of the TV adaptation and was heavily involved in the production process.
Normal People has been translated into more than 40 languages.
The audiobook version is narrated by Irish actress Aoife McMahon.
Normal People was longlisted for the prestigious Man Booker Prize in 2018.
TIME magazine named Normal People one of its 100 Must-Read Books of 2019.
About the Author
Sally Rooney, born in 1991 in the west of Ireland, is an author noted for her razor-sharp prose, nuanced characters, and insightful portrayals of complex relationships. She has published four critically acclaimed, internationally bestselling novels—Conversations with Friends (2017), Normal People (2019), Beautiful World, Where Are You (2021), and Intermezzo (2024). Known for exploring themes of love, class, power dynamics, and politics among young adults in modern Ireland, she is one of the most prominent voices of the millennial generation.
Educated at Trinity College Dublin, where she excelled in debating, Rooney honed her writing skills from an early age. Her work has appeared in prestigious publications like The New Yorker, The New York Times, and The London Review of Books. In 2017, she was named Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year, recognizing her as a rising star in contemporary fiction. Among other accolades, her novel Normal People was longlisted for the prestigious Man Booker Prize.
Beyond her novels, Rooney served as editor of the literary journal The Stinging Fly and has published poetry and essays. She co-wrote several episodes of the Emmy-nominated 2020 television adaptation of Normal People.
