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Claire's Reviews > Normal People
Normal People
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To be honest I don’t really know how to review this. I think this is probably the best book I will read this year. Rooney is the kind of writer who is not only exceptionally skilled at writing, but she’s also the kind of writer who really gets people. This novel, perfectly captures what it is to be young, anxious, confused, and imperfect. It’s much more than an exploration of relationships and their dynamics, its discussion of youthful decision-making, in all its unthinking, arbitrary glory, and the power this has to change the course of lives is astute. In short, I think Rooney is very, very clever, and this book is too.
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Reading Progress
May 22, 2018
– Shelved
May 22, 2018
– Shelved as:
to-read
January 11, 2019
–
Started Reading
January 12, 2019
– Shelved as:
best-of-2019
January 15, 2019
–
Finished Reading
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Susie
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rated it 5 stars
Jan 12, 2019 10:12PM
Hooray!
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Susie I thought it was brilliant
I honestly read it as a window into an emotionally abusive relationship... I don’t think the lack of consciousness about the abuse - from either the abuser or the victim - made that any less real.
I totally agree Lily- I think it really depicted, for me at least, how intense and unhealthy relationships can be, especially when you’re young, and feelings you don’t quite understand yourself are involved (that’s not to say that relationships like this are exclusive to youth). I thought Rooney did a good job of making that lack of consciousness from Connell, Marianne, and most of the people around them clear, and that made me think more deeply about it.
Completely agreed. I also felt like she gave Connell and Marianne a lot of context for the reader to place them in - like she really understood what we needed to know, which not all authors are great at intuiting.
Yes- absolutely. I think she did a great job of showing that, in that relationship, and their interactions with other people they were both flawed to varying degrees at varying times. I think Rooney did a great job like you say of contextualising those characters so at every moment, even if they were acting in a way that was problematic or disappointing, it was always clear exactly how they’d arrived at that place and action. Not that they were faultless, but they were clearly influenced by context.
Without the level of context provided, I probably would have found them both loathsome at times
Perfect summary and delighted you loved this.
Thanks Lee. I really think it’s a very accomplished novel
Absolutely spot on with this review. I totally agree with you. She has an extra special knack for exploring every nuance of character. The way she writes dialogue as well. So good. I'm forever in awe.
Claire wrote: "This novel, perfectly captures what it is to be young, anxious, confused, and imperfect. It’s much more than an exploration of relationships and their dynamics, it’s discussion of youthful decision-making, in all unthinking, arbitrary glory, and the power this has to change the course of lives is astute."Excellent review, Claire, and your comment about "youthful decision-making, in all unthinking, arbitrary glory" will stay with me.
Oh thank you Dan! That’s very kind of you to say!
Maybe I’ll like this Sally Rooney book better! Great review Claire 👍
Vanessa wrote: "Maybe I’ll like this Sally Rooney book better! Great review Claire 👍"Thanks Vanessa!
You've definitely sold this one to me!
Oh I hope you like it-I really thought it was so good.
I can bring my copy next week if you like x
I wish I had liked this.
