Normal People: Exploring Human Nature

Sally Rooney's Normal People follows Marianne and Connell as they face the slew of challenges that accompany coming-of-age. From high school through college, they both uplift and destroy one another.

To be honest, I decided to read this novel because Taylor Swift recommended it, and it is my close friend's favorite book. It varies from the type of book that I would typically read, but I did find it interesting how well it explores intricate psychological matters and human nature.

Writing Style

Perhaps the most controversial aspect of this book is the writing style. The author makes the bold choice to not use any quotation marks for dialogue. Some readers find it off-putting and claim that it distracts them from the important content of the story. However, in my experience Sally Rooney weaves in the dialogue so seamlessly that after the first chapter I forgot that the quotation marks were even missing. It is something that I think is easy to get used to, but it may bother some readers. Additionally, Sally Rooney's writing style might be described as sort of detached and oddly matter-of-fact for such an emotional story. The combination of the lack of quotation marks and the author's tendency to present the character's deepest emotions so factually initially made me feel detached as a reader. However, once you look past the style and get used to the difference, it is easy to fall into the world of Marianne and Connell and feel what they are feeling. I enjoyed the distinctive nature of Sally Rooney's writing style, but it is certainly not for everyone.

Characters

This novel follows two struggling adolescents that develop a complex relationship with one another which simultaneously helps and harms the pair. They constantly fall apart and back together again, but they are somehow always there for each other. Connell's character shows that even a character who tries so hard to be a good person can inflict a great deal of pain on another person unintentionally. His insecurities project onto Marianne and tear her down during their time in high school. Later, Connell begins to struggle with depression following the loss of a close friend from high school. Marianne stays with him and helps him through the dark period. Marianne struggles with mental illness from the beginning from the story. She also endures severe bullying during her high school years, in addition to family trauma. They both paint a vivid picture of what it's like to go through the highs and lows of life, supporting each other through even the darkest of times. I have heard some criticism of the characters' pretentious attitudes, which is understandable. However, I think that they challenge one another to learn more and grow, which is beneficial for readers to witness. These characters are flawed, but they reflect real issues that people are dealing with every day.

Plot

In high school, Marianne is highly isolated and endures constant bullying from her peers. Connell's mother works as her family's maid at the time, so the pair inevitably come into contact when Connell picks up his mother from work after school. He becomes Marianne's only friend, but he abuses that power by manipulating her into keeping it a secret from his popular friends. She endures the situation for a long period until she finally cuts off contact. Then, the two meet again in college and the whole situation flips. Suddenly, Marianne is the well-liked one with various college friends and Connell is struggling socially. However, Connell quickly discovers that Marianne is much more generous than he previously was. She helps him adjust to college life and introduces him to new people. The story follows them through all of their trials and successes, but most of all it focuses on the effects of mental illness on the bright young individuals as they try their best to succeed. One of the most touching lines of the novel appears when Connell realizes that "Life offers up these moments of joy despite everything." After spending months suffering from grief, he sits down to craft a story idea for a novel he hopes to write, which sparks that inspiring thought when he realizes how much he enjoys writing. The plot jumps around quite a bit, which can be a bit disorienting at times. Overall, Sally Rooney successfully illustrates an intricate picture of the complex, connected lives of two adolescents.

There are some content and trigger warnings that accompany this read, so be sure to look into those if you are considering giving this one a try. This tale takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster of love, loss, grief, hope, disappointment, anger, depression, and confusion. Rooney blends these emotions together to create an unforgettable story of the growth of Marianne and Connell despite the obstacles set before them in life. Have you read any of Sally Rooney's works? If so, what did you think?