Normal people - Sally Rooney

Synopsis:

Connell and Marianne have grown up together in a small town in west Ireland. Connell is out going and popular where as Marianne struggles to navigate her way through life. However when the two meet, they realise nothing can be the same again.

''Marianne, he said, I'm not a religious person but I do sometimes think God made you for me''

Analysis

Normal people is a depressing nihilistic love story, however, I could not put it down. What makes this book so intriguing is Rooney's use of characterization. Throughout the novel, you feel connected and invested in their relationship and the decisions they make. It exposes the complexity of 21st-century love. In terms of structure the plot is well written to the extent you feel part of both Marianne and Connell's life as we see them through the years.

A theme in the novel which I found significant was Ronney's way of conveying her political ideology. The character of Marianne is very political with a love for history and politics. the book touches on important things such as the Israeli Palestine conflict and the concept of capitalism. Connell even asks Marianne if she's read the communist manifesto as he thinks she will like it. An important quote in regards to this theme is ' time consists of physics, money is just a social construct'. I find this fascinating how Rooney has weaved into the text this subtle yet prominent theme of dismantling capitalism. The character of Marianne is so complex and detailed as we can see her political views and the influence this has on her life decisions. Marianne is caring and wants the best for everyone however she never can attract the right people in her life.

Normal people skip the exaggerated unrealistic romance trope that many authors fail to do and expose's the clarity of love. It shows that love is not straightforward nor is it always positively lustful. Rooney seems to strip away from classical romance and paint a story just as heart whelming and intoxicating with polarised characters. It is to note that the ending however without spoiling was not what I expected nor wanted, even if it again was the most realistic outcome. For me, this book did not feel like fiction the detail of the characters and the relatability of their story of navigating their way through college and life made it seem almost real. It could be argued that this was deliberate after all the title is ' normal people'. Sally Rooney's writing lures you in and allows you to realize that sometimes normal isn't a bad thing but rather something destructively unique.