Normal People

Normal People may not be for everyone, but it's absolutely worth giving a try.

Sally Rooney's characters are extremely believable and lifelike. You feel their highs and lows, and like people in our own lives, they are flawed. I think in this lies the issue that many people have with Normal People:the main characters don't act like you want them to. They don't communicate well and they make decisions that actively make their lives worse, but wanting them to act differently is much like reflecting on a conflict you had in your own life and wishing it went differently– “Damn, I should've said ‘x' instead of what I actually said.”

Connell and Marianne make mistakes, but they also have successes. They have good role models and bad influences in their lives. I enjoyed watching their lives unfold, and continue to enjoy imagining how their lives would continue; either together or apart.

I also must say that I have never empathized with a character more than when Connell seeks counseling at his university. When I was reading this, I too was talking to university doctors about treating my anxiety; something I didn't realize I was dealing with for years. After my mother read this book it was a big help for me to be able to tell her that I was going through what Connell did in college. She didn't know anyone who was open to her about their struggles with mental health, but she knew Connell and I didn't have to start from scratch when I tried to explain how I was feeling.

Thanks Sally for helping me to be feel understood.