Normal People by Sally Rooney is a novel that centers around two Irish people, Marianne and Connell, who have a complicated relationship. The two teenagers from different social backgrounds and upbringings first meet when Connell’s mother, who is a maid for Marianne’s family home, sends him to pick her up at her school for a date. As each chapter alternates between them, the reader is slowly introduced to the nuances of the characters’ lives; their families, hurts, worries and successes. The reader gets an intimate firsthand look at the pair’s up and down emotional roller-coaster as they navigate the teenage years' highs and lows, societal expectations and pressures, and, of course, the all-too-familiar struggle of trying to figure out who they are.
Marianne and Connell’s relationship alternates between unhealthy infatuation and touching pureness. They keep things superficial, indulging in occasions of intense physical intimacy, while simultaneously hiding the emotional connection they so desperately crave. Though their relationship initially painted Marianne as an object of extreme desire, Connell eventually comes to respect and appreciate her confident and independent streak, which causes tension as they both battle feelings of insecurity.
Despite differences in social standing, the two creative minds are connected in an unspoken way, a connection that grows stronger only as it is tested. They are the only source of stability for one another, the only people who truly understand them. As their relationship progresses, we see both characters struggle to express how deeply they feel for one another and learn the ways in which habit and experience sway our innermost thoughts.
Outside their relationship with each other, each character struggles with their own internal battle as well. The reader follows them as they experience academic stress, past trauma, breakups, self-image issues, and learning how to love and accept themselves for who they are. Rooney skillfully paints a fascinating portrait of a young adolescent’s inner and outer life, never losing any of the complexity of their emotions, insecurities, desires, motivations and fears.
Normal People is a beautiful coming-of-age story; but beyond that, it is a unique exploration of the complexity of relationships, the side of our subconscious that we often ignore, and ultimately how even those from vastly different backgrounds can find solace with one another. Rooney powerfully weaves a multi-faceted story of two people trying to understand themselves and each other, in a world of rules, expectations, and societal pressures.
If you’re looking for an intimate and profound story of two multifaceted characters, with an aching beauty and captivating voice, Normal People by Sally Rooney is the novel for you. Not only will you feel the weight of their pain, but you’ll also get to take part in the process of self-discovery and change both characters undergo. It is a story of pain, but also of the strength of human spirit and emotion. It’s a beautiful story of connection between two normal people trying to understand their own feelings and those of the person they care for.
