Tag: Normal People

October 6, 2021
Books/TV Shows

Normal People

Normal PeopleNormal People by Sally Rooney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It was so nice reading what Connell and Marianne were thinking as opposed to guessing what the bloody hell they were thinking when they said or did certain things. I had much more sympathy for both characters when I read the book compared to the tv series.

I enjoyed it especially when Rooney switched between Connell and Marianne’s reflections of the same conversation or events that had led to misunderstandings. Their perceptions at those points were so unfortunately coloured by negative thoughts of themselves and their respective emotional baggage. Felt very tragic every time.

Still gets 3 stars since I felt more optimistic for their future as a couple compared to the tv series and I always want a happy ending.

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September 14, 2021
Books/TV Shows

Conversations with Friends

To stop my incessant online shopping, I’ve decided to pick up a book instead of immediately proceeding to checkout. As a result, I’m now reading Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney.

I saw ads for Rooney’s recently published third novel, Beautiful World, Where Are you and liked the series Normal People, so I chose her debut novel.

The secondary school first love relationship was depicted really well in Normal People. The characters’ vulnerableness was palpable. The actor Paul Mescal is uber likeable. Unfortunately, the plot took a rubbish turn at the end. I regretted recommending the show to others before finishing it.

All hail gorgeous book covers!
Daisy Edgar Jones and Paul Mescal in Normal People, Hulu

Yes, Marianne is self-destructive but it didn’t stop her choices from being gross and unrelateable. If I knew where things were heading, I wouldn’t have watched the series at all.

I can also see from the book that Rooney likes her characters who, like her, are gifted in English and attended Trinity College, Dublin. Pretty sure Rooney must have hoildayed in expensive European villas when she was in uni too.

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