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

A Disappointing Award Winning Novel

So, the first thing that I want to say about this book is that I feel like it should come with a trigger warning for women who have dealt with domestic violence. Because there is a lot of it in this book. This is also book about unhealthy and toxic codependent relationships.

I had high hopes for this book. I really did. It was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize (as well as several other awards). The premise was interesting enough and it was chosen as the August pick for the book club that I am in. I was really looking forward to reading it.

And then I started reading it.

It begins with Connell, the main male character, essentially using Marianne, the female main character, for sex. When they're in school, he denies that he's dating her or that they're even friends. When they're away and alone, they sleep together. She wants a relationship. He does not - because she's the awkward kid and that would hurt his social standing. He eventually chooses to go to the final dance (I'm guessing that's what it is) with someone else and she drops out of school and pushes him away.

Fast forward to the first year of college and the social tables have turned. He's the awkward freshman and everyone adores her. They reconnect and start spending time together. She's in a relationship and he winds up getting into one. His is a healthy relationship. So is she, until they break up and she starts dating an incredibly toxic guy. In fact, she's in one bad relationship after another throughout the entire book.

At one point, Connell starts suspecting that Marianne is a masochist. This revelation is almost blithe; as if the author was excusing all the abuse that Marianne goes through. At one point, towards the end of the book, Connell finally stands up for Marianne, but it felt like it was too little, too late.

I'm giving it three stars, as opposed to two, because of how well written it is. The narrative style was unique; but that also wore on me after a while. To be honest, I'm glad that the book wasn't longer. I don't think that I would have finished it if it had been.

Cyclical

Was an okay read but not a cerebral one. Wish the author would have gone more into detail about her life - may have given context to why she acted how she did. In the end I was left sad for him. Too much intimacy without feeling intimate- hard to explain.

Interesting, yet …

The story itself started off, interestingly enough, but it locked the bite I was hoping for in the novel. And there are twists and turns, dark sides to characters, and even the every day common person is made out well; however, the main characters lack a little something. I can’t put my finger on it, but it lost my interest at times.

Moving story beautifully read.

The book at times can be frustrating, but in a good way. What I mean is, the characters, like real people, make frustrating decisions. But in a sense, that is one of the themes of the book. The author explores, with great sensitivity and lack of judgment, why people make the decisions that they do. How does the environment, upbringing and people in a person’s life lead them to make decisions that are by all accounts terrible decisions? What complicity does the character have, and what complicity do those surrounding the character have in these outcomes? Can the decision maker, and those who are complicit in abusive behavior, be redeemed by love, by maturity, by greater understanding? It really is a beautifully written exploration of very frustrating decisions and turns in the life of young adults.

The narration is really quite lovely and sensitive to what I think is the author’s intent with the book.

Beautifully Written

100% would recommend, lives up to the hype. Authors intention comes through beautifully. Both main characters are incredibly complex and you find yourself empathizing with both, which is why the use of the miscommunication trope used gets a pass from me.