Another book straight off the 2018 Man Booker long list, Sally Rooney, the author of Conversation with Friends, bring the long during and complex friendship between Connell and Marianne to life in Normal People.
I had heard so many praises for Conversation with Friends over the years that when Rooney’s latest novel, and her first one since Conversation, came out I immediately knew I wanted to pick it up. Additionally, as a general rule, I am a huge fan of any and all popular guy/girl galls for the unpopular guy/girl. Not entirely sure why, but the dynamics and challenges that come up when someone chooses to reject or ‘overstep’ their social status for love is very appealing to me. While I am not usually a romantic, I have to say that this is one trait that seems to get me every time.
What makes Normal People so interesting however, is that it is not as straight forward as some would imagine. Following the characters from the end of high school into their university years, working-class Connell and upper-class Marianne are plagued with the consequences of their backgrounds, but moreover, their own insecurities. Delving into very interesting topics such as class relations and peer pressure, Rooney traces how the duo grow and learn and make mistakes both separately and together.
One element that I thoroughly enjoyed was the deep insight you get into the thoughts of both characters. Though there is minimal dialogue throughout the novel, it is the internal monologues and concerns that these characters go through that provide the depth in the novel. Rooney does not shy away from showing their flaws either, their fear, ugly anger, and at times debilitating sadness.
However, as the novel goes on, the development of Marianne appears to be missing something. A specific element that would enable a greater understanding of the individual and her choices. In fact, the last quarter of the novel seems rather rushed, and the ending itself abrupt, a contrast from the previously established pace. Potentially, this might be as an indication that their story is not truly over, rather only the novel is. While this is fair and acceptable, it did leave me feeling rather unsatisfied.
Not simply because I was hoping for a definitive conclusion, in fact I had no problem with the ending itself, but rather because I felt the development arc that Rooney had been tracing felt incomplete. The final chapter attempts to wrap up that development, however it falls short, as I previously mentioned, because it feels like there is a significant chuck missing. And for me, who find the character of Marianne a frustrating character and generally dislikeable (which I quite in enjoy having in a novel), it was a necessary chunk that would have explained the insecurities that form so much of who she is.
Having read Normal People, I can understand the draw of Sally Rooney. While her writing was nothing spectacular, the picture she has drawn of Connell and Marianne’s relationship is very compelling and a wonderful story. If you, like me, are generally sceptical of romance novels, but do enjoy the occasional heart-warming tale, this might be the book for you. Though it is mostly lacking in the heart-warming element, the development of the protagonists feels authentic. At times pull-your-hair-out frustrating, the young lives of the pair is a joy to read about, regardless of how much you like (or dislike) the characters.
~S~
