In a way that was difficult, at the time, to put a finger on. Or possibly just disturbing.īut this one fell flat for me. I adore Rooney’s prior novel, Conversations with Friends, to a degree that is almost disturbing. While this can be considered relatively high for me (don’t check my average rating, it will only bring despair to us both), it is approximately two stars lower than what I expected to rate this book. The first time I read this, I rated it three stars. “Life offers up these moments of joy despite everything.” Sally Rooney brings her brilliant psychological acuity and perfectly spare prose to a story that explores the subtleties of class, the electricity of first love, and the complex entanglements of family and friendship. Then, as she veers into self-destruction and he begins to search for meaning elsewhere, each must confront how far they are willing to go to save the other. Throughout their years in college, Marianne and Connell circle one another, straying toward other people and possibilities but always magnetically, irresistibly drawn back together. Marianne has found her feet in a new social world while Connell hangs at the sidelines, shy and uncertain. But when Connell comes to pick his mother up from her housekeeping job at Marianne’s house, a strange and indelible connection grows between the two teenagers - one they are determined to conceal.Ī year later, they’re both studying at Trinity College in Dublin.

He’s popular and well-adjusted, star of the school soccer team while she is lonely, proud, and intensely private. At school Connell and Marianne pretend not to know each other.

Normal people book cover