Normal People: A Novel
NOW AN EMMY-NOMINATED HULU ORIGINAL SERIES • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE • “A stunning novel about the transformative power of relationships” (People) from the author of Conversations with Friends, “a master of the literary page-turner” (J. Courtney Sullivan).
“[A] novel that demands to be read compulsively, in one sitting.”—The Washington Post
ONE OF ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY’S TEN BEST NOVELS OF THE DECADE
TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: People, Slate, The New York Public Library, Harvard Crimson
Connell and Marianne grew up in the same small town, but the similarities end there. At school, Connell is popular and well liked, while Marianne is a loner. But when the two strike up a conversation—awkward but electrifying—something life changing begins.
A year later, they’re both studying at Trinity College in Dublin. Marianne has found her feet in a new social world while Connell hangs at the sidelines, shy and uncertain. Throughout their years at university, Marianne and Connell circle one another, straying toward other people and possibilities but always magnetically, irresistibly drawn back together. And 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.
Normal People is the story of mutual fascination, friendship, and love. It takes us from that first conversation to the years beyond, in the company of two people who try to stay apart but find that they can’t.
WINNER: The British Book Award, The Costa Book Award, The An Post Irish Novel of the Year, Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award
BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times, The New York Times Book Review, Oprah Daily, Time, NPR, The Washington Post, Vogue, Esquire, Glamour, Elle, Marie Claire, Vox, The Paris Review, Good Housekeeping, Town & Country
“[A] novel that demands to be read compulsively, in one sitting.”—The Washington Post
ONE OF ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY’S TEN BEST NOVELS OF THE DECADE
TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: People, Slate, The New York Public Library, Harvard Crimson
Connell and Marianne grew up in the same small town, but the similarities end there. At school, Connell is popular and well liked, while Marianne is a loner. But when the two strike up a conversation—awkward but electrifying—something life changing begins.
A year later, they’re both studying at Trinity College in Dublin. Marianne has found her feet in a new social world while Connell hangs at the sidelines, shy and uncertain. Throughout their years at university, Marianne and Connell circle one another, straying toward other people and possibilities but always magnetically, irresistibly drawn back together. And 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.
Normal People is the story of mutual fascination, friendship, and love. It takes us from that first conversation to the years beyond, in the company of two people who try to stay apart but find that they can’t.
WINNER: The British Book Award, The Costa Book Award, The An Post Irish Novel of the Year, Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award
BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times, The New York Times Book Review, Oprah Daily, Time, NPR, The Washington Post, Vogue, Esquire, Glamour, Elle, Marie Claire, Vox, The Paris Review, Good Housekeeping, Town & Country
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What Bookclubbers are saying about this book
✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI
Readers say *Normal People* offers an insightful portrait of flawed characters grappling with vulnerability, self-doubt, and outsider syndrome, captur...
I really loved this book. The characters felt so real and genuine. I finished it in a day or 2. A really great read.
An insightful portrait of two people struggling with "outsider syndrome," self-doubt, and an inability to risk the kind of vulnerability required for genuine communication. In that sense, Connell and Marianne are indeed "normal people," given how difficult and rare it can be for so many people to communicate what they really feel and want, for fear of rejection or misunderstanding.
I almost stopped reading after a few chapters b/c I found the author's handling of dialogue, without any quotation marks, to be off-putting. But I'm glad I stuck with it b/c I found the story compelling. Sad, yes, but shining a light on the consequences not being willing to truly share what's on your heart and mind.
I almost stopped reading after a few chapters b/c I found the author's handling of dialogue, without any quotation marks, to be off-putting. But I'm glad I stuck with it b/c I found the story compelling. Sad, yes, but shining a light on the consequences not being willing to truly share what's on your heart and mind.
First of all...what kind of ending was that?? was I missing a chapter, an epilogue? Second of all, Make decisions to either be together or not! The back and forth was ridiculous! Would not recommend.
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Normal People by Sally Rooney
273 pages
What’s it about?
Marianne and Connell are high school seniors in a small town in Ireland. Both are impressive students- but Connell is popular with the other kids in his high school class and Marianne is a complete loner. Since Connell's mom works as a cleaning lady in Marianne's house they slowly begin a friendship of sorts. They end up at the same college and we watch this relationship evolve over the years. "Being alone with her was like opening a door away from normal life and then closing it behind him."
What did it make me think about?
So this novel explores some fascinating questions. One of my favorite sayings over the last several years is, "We are the stories we tell ourselves." No novel captures the essence of this phrase as well as Normal People. Marianne and Connell both make up narratives to explain the behavior of the people around them. Often these narratives are wrong. We also see how isolated individuals can feel- even when they are in relationships. The book also explores how relationships in our formative years can influence our future choices. Fascinating stuff!
Should I read it?
YES! Marianne and Connell are both flawed characters- but two of my favorite characters in a long time. This story is all about relationships and I found it thought provoking and extraordinary. This novel would make a great discussion book! Great summer book- beach, rainy day, anywhere!!!
Quote-
"Not for the first time Marianne thinks cruelty does not only hurt the victim, but the perpetrator also, and maybe more deeply and more permanently. You learn nothing very profound about yourself simply by being bullied; but by bullying someone else you learn something you can never forget."
Normal People by Sally Rooney
273 pages
What’s it about?
Marianne and Connell are high school seniors in a small town in Ireland. Both are impressive students- but Connell is popular with the other kids in his high school class and Marianne is a complete loner. Since Connell's mom works as a cleaning lady in Marianne's house they slowly begin a friendship of sorts. They end up at the same college and we watch this relationship evolve over the years. "Being alone with her was like opening a door away from normal life and then closing it behind him."
What did it make me think about?
So this novel explores some fascinating questions. One of my favorite sayings over the last several years is, "We are the stories we tell ourselves." No novel captures the essence of this phrase as well as Normal People. Marianne and Connell both make up narratives to explain the behavior of the people around them. Often these narratives are wrong. We also see how isolated individuals can feel- even when they are in relationships. The book also explores how relationships in our formative years can influence our future choices. Fascinating stuff!
Should I read it?
YES! Marianne and Connell are both flawed characters- but two of my favorite characters in a long time. This story is all about relationships and I found it thought provoking and extraordinary. This novel would make a great discussion book! Great summer book- beach, rainy day, anywhere!!!
Quote-
"Not for the first time Marianne thinks cruelty does not only hurt the victim, but the perpetrator also, and maybe more deeply and more permanently. You learn nothing very profound about yourself simply by being bullied; but by bullying someone else you learn something you can never forget."
this was an alright book. easy to read pallet cleanser. slice of life type of read. nothing fantastic. able to read it in one sitting
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