Normal People by Sally Rooney - Book Review

The one-sit read, Normal People, by Sally Rooney is a beautiful display of raw intimacy that explores the complexities of young romance and relationships. Set in the fictional town of Carricklea, a mundane place cloaked in fog, the story follows the relationship of Connell and Marianne over the course of several years, through high school into university in Dublin.

Connell and Marianne’s love is young and confusing, sometimes puerile--something Rooney has purposefully depicted to aim at a larger audience, and she most definitely hits her target. These teenagers are prone to mistakes, prone to grudges and forgiveness. There is a familiar taste to the language Rooney uses: simple, natural, not entirely out of touch. All of these details contribute to the reader’s relationship to the protagonists, which is by far the highlight of the book.

Normal People’s cover art by illustrator Henn Kim

The novel also expertly delves into many important and delicate subjects; be it a money-driven power dynamic, dysfunctional families, the difficult balance between sex life and reality, or struggles with mental health. Rooney picks apart issues carefully as she crafts the story, leaving no loose ends to character arcs.

Normal People leaves the reader craving more; a story that settles on comfortable silence while still perpetuating almost perfect endings and ‘what ifs?’ There’s comfort to be found in reading the book, much like how Connell and Marianne can find comfort in one another despite all the noise of life. The story follows the comfortable ‘first love’ narrative--the feeling of all or nothing, the desperation the young heart has for another—while also reflecting a juxtapose of real life, the struggles, and how people have tendencies to cling onto the little things.

After Connell realises the value of being, he says: “Life offers up these moments of joy despite everything.” A simple but decent train of thought, perfectly reflecting the experience when reading Normal People.