"Sally Rooney pushes the narrative that normal is far from boring- it's ongoing, complex, and most importantly, beautiful!"
Target Audience
This book is for someone who wants to get into/already loves literary fiction, especially young adults and people in their early twenties. If you are interested in seeing different perspectives and the ups and downs of complex relationships, this book is for you!
Trigger Warnings:
In Normal People by Sally Rooney, there are certain messages that might not be suitable for some readers so please pick up with caution. Triggers include:
-Mental Health Struggles (depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts)
-Emotional/physical abuse
-Classism/social inequalities
-Alcohol Abuse
Summary
Normal People, by Sally Rooney, follows both Marianne and Connell as they come to know each other, from the last few months of high school through their years at Trinity College, navigating intimacy, freedom, and vulnerability. Marianne Sheridan has only ever been seen as plain, “smart-mouthed,” and privileged—living in a large white mansion with gardens so big, they’re considered grounds. Connell Waldron is handsome and athletic but ashamed of his working-class background, living in a small townhome with his mother, Lorraine—the Sheridan’s housekeeper. Besides their childhood town, nothing about the two is similar, from the way they're perceived (Connell being liked and Marianne not) to their social classes (Marianne having money and Connell not).Yet despite their differences, they find common ground and create a genuine connection that pulls them back together every time. Despite a series of adversaries, including mental health issues, constant reminders of others' opinions, and the reality of social inequality, they remain united. At its heart Normal People reflects love and loss and contributes the message that life always has the final say.
Overall Rating- 9/10
Normal People is an engaging story without the fluff of long and excessive adjectives. It's the novels simplicity that truly enhances its elegance and can even be seen as representing the normality Rooney is trying to portray. Pushing the statement that the "normal" society continuously puts on display isn’t actually normal but rather the ache and envy of wanting to be. In life there isn’t a set beginning, middle, and end. There is no structure or rubric. Life is messy- there is heartbreak and loss and insecurity and deeply rooted societal issues. Feelings of jealousy and that we aren't living up to personal or societal standards are universally shared, regardless of class, race, or age. This story shows how the uncertainty of life can not only be scary but also spontaneous- always ready to give us the push we so desperately need. This is no book to simply gloss over, underline a few portions of, and call it a day but rather a story to feel and appreciate. To skip out on reading this novel would be to pass up on one of the most intricate and intense stories of a lifetime.
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