When I originally heard of Normal People by Sally Rooney, I thought it would be a light and enjoyable read. However, anyone that has read this haunting story knows it might just be anything but that. If you read the back cover of the book or summarize it briefly, it sounds like a story of a couple spanning over four years, while readers know it is so much more than that. Normal People is a novel that breaks readers and illustrates just how much one person’s life can affect the other. I started reading this with high expectations, and the book definitely delivered and lived up to them.
The plot may seem simple at first, but so much happens in less than 300 pages. The book opens with main characters Marriane and Connell in high school in their small Irish town. Connell is popular at school, while Marianne pretty much keeps to herself. Marianne comes from a wealthy family, but it is only when Connell’s mom starts to clean Marianne’s house do they form a connection. An initially awkward conversation forms a bond between the two, leading to a romantic relationship. They only speak when alone, while at school, the pair ignores each other. Both are intellectually bright and find serenity through reading and philosophical discussion, which they connect over. One year passes, and the two both find themselves at Trinity College in Dublin, but this time, their roles are reversed. Marianne is well-liked and flourishing while Connell finds himself to be a lonely outcast. The two reconnect and the rest of the novel follows their on-and-off relationship as they grow. The novel portrays the highs and mostly lows of the pair’s complicated lives, all while maintaining a tender and bittersweet relationship between each other. Their relationship is a classic example of miscommunication and how much proper communication could have changed fate.
Something that drew me from originally reading this book was the style. Rooney writes without quotation marks, often making the dialogue confusing. I read a chapter of one of her other novels, Conversations with Friends, years ago and was instantly drawn away from the absence of quotations. Given the raving reviews of this book, I had to put my own issues with this style aside to take a chance at this book. The first few chapters were definitely challenging to follow, but I got used to following along who said what. The story is way too good to not read because of the style. Some people love that Rooney writes like this while others (including myself) don’t enjoy it as much. The dialogue style does make the book appear more natural and has it read as a conversation instead of a novel.
Connell and Marianne’s relationship is very vulnerable and vivid, drawing many readers from a similar age range as the characters themselves to relate to their experiences. Normal People captures an accurate depiction of a flawed adolescent relationship. Teenagers can see themselves in Connell or Marianne as they battle school, mental health, friendships and relationships. When speaking to friends about this novel, they seem to relate to Marianne – shy, intelligent and out of place. This connection might be what the hype about Normal People is about. Adolescents enjoy reading about people they can relate to or stories that seem similar to their own, which the book can offer for them. Every friend that has read this has enjoyed it, as it is a great introduction to literary fiction without being classified as a true romance novel.
Best spot on campus to read this book: Commons holy grounds
Normal People should be read in a cold or at least chilly climate, as something about this book gives fall or winter vibes. My recommendation to read this novel would be the Commons holy grounds. Cozy up with a hot latte and tackle this read.
