Book Review: Normal People
"At school, Connell and Marianne pretend not to know each
other. He’s popular and well-adjusted, star of the school soccer team while she
is lonely, proud, and intensely private. But when Connell comes to pick his
mother up from her housekeeping job at Marianne’s house, a strange and
indelible connection grows between the two teenagers - one they are determined
to conceal.
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 in college,
Marianne and Connell circle one another, straying toward other people and
possibilities but always magnetically, irresistibly drawn back together. Then,
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.
Sally Rooney brings her brilliant psychological acuity and
perfectly spare prose to a story that explores the subtleties of class, the electricity of first love, and the complex entanglements of family and
friendship."
~ From Goodreads ~
This is a coming of age story of two young adults Connell and Marianne. One rich and troubled and the other poor and troubled.
I think the major issue I had with this book is that the author has tried to incorporate a lot of the "happening" topics into the story. There is teenage suicide, there is gun control, there is social bias, there is bullying, etc...
There is everything that is present in the life of young adults these days. Yet, I never felt anything for the characters rather than the urge to shake them up and tell them to communicate better. I guess that's the "adult" in me speaking. Maybe a younger me would have been more compassionate towards the characters.
Mental health is a fragile topic and I honestly think it could have been dealt with in a better way in the story. What remains with me is the stigma portrayed, that is still attached to people who actually seek help in time. It is not something I would promote.
Other than the fact that there are no conversation quotation marks in the entire book, which has a lot of conversations, the writing needs to be appreciated here. I am looking forward to reading more books by this author to further understand her way of writing.
Have you read this one? Do let me know what you thought about it in the comments below.
I read this one for the prompts of the following Reading challenges:
Popsugar Reading Challenge 2021: A book set in different countries.
Book Bingo 2021: Your Choice. ( I had picked up this book to fill 2020 prompt " Booker Prize Nominee")
Fiction-NonFiction Challenge 2021- A book by a female author.
Haven't read this one, although I've heard of it. Now based on your review, I'll give it a miss!
ReplyDeleteIt is worth reading though. I mean, it was nominated for Man Booker Prize. But it didn't make me feel anything. I guess our ratings always depend on the phase of life we read them in. I have realized that over the past year or so , my tastes have changed.
DeleteI have read a few reviews of the book. Love your honest review. It is a hard subject to write on. And I guess it is not an easy read as well.
ReplyDeleteIt's not entirely about Mental Health though. But I guess dividing that line is a tough call. Because almost everything in life is about that, in some form or the other.
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