Review of "Normal People" by Sally Rooney

It is a novel which makes me feel like I am intruding into the privacy of these two people, who are experiencing an intimate connection, which is beyond any conventional understanding of a relationship.

PLOT

The story mainly revolves around two people, Connell and Marriane, and their complex relationship over the years; the story is set in a small Irish town. It is a story not only of their personal growth but also of their relationship where they try to stay apart from each other but eventually end up being closer than ever, as they navigate adulthood. Marriane who was considered a bit odd and cold during her school days, and Connell who was a popular lad, embark upon a relationship; however, it was their personal challenges that they had to confront to embrace each other. 

This is the first time that I have read Sally Rooney’s work, as she is relatively new. But, at no point was I disappointed with the way it was written. It is a fast-paced novel with a non-linear time frame, yet it never fails to convey the state of mind of the characters even in the smallest of actions. The language is easy to follow and there is a seamless flow to the whole story which keeps you intrigued and curious.

CHARACTERS

The novel, for the most part, focuses on Marriane and Connell; however, there are plenty of secondary characters who help us to understand the psychological state of the main characters, and why they behave the way they do. To begin with, Marianne’s character reflects the struggle of all those students who never felt belonged and were accepted. She is smart, witty, emotional, and strong and despite that, she is a loner who is subjugated to ill-treatment not only by her schoolmates but also by her family, yet she loathes only herself for being who she is. A character who has its own vulnerabilities and weaknesses but puts up a strong face to hide her insecurities to seem normal.

Similarly, Connell is someone who struggles to express his feelings outwardly and tries to stay away from any kind of attention. He is more into his head and therefore overthinks every action of himself and others. This introvertedness and detachment from the world had shut him, and he only truly feels as well as expresses his weak side when he is in the company of Marriane, the only person he can be himself with. However, the strange part is that, as easy as it is for them to share complex ideas and feelings, it is a lot harder to communicate the simplest of feelings, and it is this hesitance which creates differences between the two, leading to their break-ups.

The secondary characters of the novel had very limited space to themselves (am not complaining at all) but the main characters who stood out for me were Connell’s mother, Lorraine, she is such an uncomplicated and supportive mother who is presented in such a positive manner that it provides a breath of fresh air. However, on the other hand, Marriane’s brother Alan is a suppressor who to hide his inferiority complex and to give validation to his fake masculinity, induces pain upon the women of his family. He is a true representation of how delicate man’s ego can be, and how it can be triggered by the most trivial actions.  

MY VIEWS

The novel should not be taken as a romantic story because it has so much more to offer than just being another love story of two teenagers. It is a novel which deals with serious issues such as depression, self-loathing, mental abuse etc. It truly presents the troubled life of two teenagers and their struggle to communicate their emotions and feelings. The story is universal in its sense of teenage challenges and can be resonated with people who have felt this isolation in their lives. The novel also portrays the struggle of growing up in Ireland in the 2010s, and introduces us to the idiosyncrasies of this country very accurately, for ex: the ghost house which is the representation of recession in Ireland or Debs (kind of like prom) which is a big event in the life of Irish teenagers etc. 

 

The language of the novel is also easy to follow and is filled with Irish idioms and slang which really helps us to understand Irish English, for ex: Grind (private lessons), riding (having sex), odd (very Irish way to say someone is not liked) etc. Rooney has not only shown the characters but presented the mental state of two people who think of themselves as flawed, and craves to feel ‘normal’. I would definitely recommend this novel to everyone who wants to read a coming-of-age novel but with a deeper sensitivity to it.

(Little spoiler alert) Having said that, this novel still has its own flaws and for me personally, the major flaw lies in the ending as it did not satisfy me. Usually, I don’t mind open endings, however in this case it just fell short and couldn’t meet my expectations. The ending was somehow abrupt and unfulfilling. It was a mediocre end to an otherwise exceptional story.

PS: If you don’t know, there is a mini-series inspired by the book. After reading the book, you can check that out, it wouldn’t disappoint you.