Normal People

A Novel

De: Sally Rooney

Narrado por: Aoife McMahon

NOW AN EMMY-NOMINATED HULU ORIGINAL SERIES • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE • “A stunning novel about the transformative power of relationships” (People) from the author of Conversations with Friends, “a master of the literary page-turner” (J. Courtney Sullivan).

“[A] novel that demands to be read compulsively, in one sitting.”—The Washington Post

ONE OF ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY’S TEN BEST NOVELS OF THE DECADE

TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: People, Slate, The New York Public Library, Harvard Crimson

Connell and Marianne grew up in the same small town, but the similarities end there. At 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.

A year later, they’re both studying at Trinity College in Dublin. Marianne has found her feet in a new social world while Connell hangs at the sidelines, shy and uncertain. Throughout their years at university, Marianne and Connell circle one another, straying toward other people and possibilities but always magnetically, irresistibly drawn back together. And as she veers into self-destruction and he begins to search for meaning elsewhere, each must confront how far they are willing to go to save the other.

Normal People is the 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 that they can’t.

WINNER: The British Book Award, The Costa Book Award, The An Post Irish Novel of the Year, Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award

BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times, The New York Times Book Review, Oprah Daily, Time, NPR, The Washington Post, Vogue, Esquire, Glamour, Elle, Marie Claire, Vox, The Paris Review, Good Housekeeping, Town & Country

Boring and Insipid

Honestly, I kept waiting for something,,,ANYTHING...to happen.. I have read slice-of-life books before that were entertaining or even riveting.. The characters in this book are one-dimensional and monotonous.. The story meanders here and there but nothing of consequence ever really happens. Don't waste your time.

Esoteric...

A rather esoteric story, and the characters are not fully developed. Additionally, it’s a bit choppy listening to the audible version.

It can’t be over!

I read this because I watched the show on Hulu. I watched it all in one day because it sucked me right in! I couldn’t wait to see what happened next so I got the book, only to find out that was it! The end! There needs to be a second book. I don’t go for much romance or books that make me cry, but this book really got me. I just love the main characters. I love that they are broken and that together they feel whole. Beautiful

Phenomenal Performance

The book itself is a masterpiece but this review is dedicated towards the audio performance. The narrator was brilliantly skilful in her interpretation of each character/individual voices. I’m especially impressed by her Connell's tone. It really sounds like a male voice! Though at time she struggled to express some of his intense emotions such as anger (mind you this is rather rare for Connell), her overall pace, pitch, intonation, timbre, etc. approach perfection. As I have described to my housemate after reading/listening to the book, the audio performance completed the whole experience. Highly recommend!

Normal people with normal problems.

So glad I found author Sally Rooney. I hope she continues to produce these mass market almost literature novels.

Rooney’s work hits the heart with her writing of people with issues they learn to live with.

Narrated by the exceptional Aoife McMahon, the Irish accents are spot on, of course. If you haven’t heard her other narrations I encourage you to check them out.

Well worth the listen.