I first read Normal People when my housemate’s cousin lent him a copy and I found it on our coffee table. I read it in one sitting while waiting for my hungover sister – who was visiting me from interstate – to wake up. The reason I read it in one sitting was not because my sister slept-in that late, but because it required a lower literacy level than the first Harry Potter book.
I then read Conversations with Friends which I found bland and full of boring characters striving to be deeper, but who never stood a chance given the elementary writing style. The only redeeming quality of this book was that the protagonist has endometriosis. It was good it raised awareness, however I’m guessing Sally’s demographic is women of reproductive age anyway.
This year I read Intermezzo. I deliberately selected this book as what I call a palate cleanser. This means I selected it deliberately because it was a garbage book akin to watching trash TV to cleanse my palate between books that actually interest me. It was the perfect rubbish read to help me reset after I gave birth and was super tired and struggling to comprehend the ingredients on a food label.
Sorry Sally, your books suck. Youre just young enough, Irish and wear frumpy jumpers so you’ve been conveniently cast as a contemporary female author. You’re never getting a Pulitzer but it’s great you have reached commerical success.
PS Sally if you ever read this I’m a mean little person and only one person so don’t take me too seriously.
Comments
Please remember what subreddit you are in, this is unpopular opinion. We want civil and unpopular takes and discussion. Any uncivil and ToS violating comments will be removed and subject to a ban. Have a nice day!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
You read 3 of her books even though you thought they were boring? From start to finish? You didn’t even give up half way?
Sex sells
😂😂 I would agree with this but also add that while she might not be as deep as she’s playing on, she is good at pacing and her books are quite easy to finish which is important to many readers.
Also, a lot of writers kind of find their way into her category. Recently, I’ve found Lauren Groff to find her way there but maybe she’s also just putting out way too much in short time.
Agreed. I picked Normal People for an assignment in high school and ended up switching a few weeks in because it was so dull. I can’t remember much about it but I remember thinking it was a terrible book for an assignment because it was written in such a straightforward way. Also that it was weirdly humourless for a book about awkward teenagers.
Could you share some recent books that you’ve read that you admire?
I also don’t love her writing style. But am wondering if a frumpy sweater can get me a book deal
Yeah I read a couple of them and was trying to work out what I was missing because nothing happened but everyone was raving about them. I think it must be us because most people love them
I read normal people as part of a book club
Agree, it wasn’t anything worthwhile, not sure why it was published
I think slightly-literary-commercial-domestic-fiction is unlikely to be interesting to a lot of people if your general tastes are things like anime, fantasy, or sci-fi like I assume most Redditors are into.
I personally adore Sally Rooney’s prose and the contemplative, thoughtful way she examines human relationships.
I tried.
There are lots of writers of around her calibre whose popularity I can’t understand. I heard so often that Dolly Alderton was an amazing writer that I couldn’t believe it when I actually read one of her books (her latest, I think). It had rave reviews. It was so mediocre.
Normal People was great. I don’t read much contemporary literature. I live in the UK so much of the novel I can relate to but perhaps if you’re an American reader you wont get much of the cultural context.
“Waiter, this seafood chowder is disgusting. Bring me two more servings.”
I couldn’t finish Normal People- also the lack of quotation marks for “aesthetic” throws me off. I however loved the show
She’s okay. But I just don’t get the squeals of girlish delight some people offer up about her work.