The thirty-second book that I’ve finished reading this year is Sally Rooney’s “Normal People”. Thanks to an old friend?for recommending. In an Irish town called Carricklea, Marianne and Connell, two seemingly very different people in terms of family background, gradually form a strong bond that continues to bind them together in the years ahead.

Although I don’t quite understand their relationship (it is quite warped in my opinion), there were moments (especially during the pre-university times) where I was rejuvenated with the tangy scent of unripe teenage love. At a younger age, people tend to care too much of other people’s views, and that’s probably one reason why popular Connell was reluctant to declare his relationship with Marianne, the secluded one. As a result, some decisions made to put on a shiny fa?ade were deeply hurtful. Furthermore, the emotion baggage that they bring from their family of origins have led to one misunderstanding after another, causing them to miss each other narrowly time after time. The final episode was quite an O’Henry ending, where both characters have gone through a dynamic change and are off to further uncertainties. Trust is still difficult to warrant, but perhaps by acknowledging what has occurred between them and how each of them has grown, it is now okay to let go and have a guess at where their relationship may head.

Personally, I have many doubts about the storyline. The high school and university life portrayed in this book are no where near my own experiences and are thus puzzling (maybe I didn’t have a normal school life?). Furthermore, the gaps between the narrative also seem abrupt at times, where a character’s development has suddenly taken a steep turn without a convincing back story. There were many themes that Rooney alluded to, especially regarding mental health, including mental abuse, domestic violence, suicidal thoughts, but it sometimes seems that depth is sacrificed for range. I do agree, however, that Rooney has a fine touch in illustrating mood; although I don’t personally click with the characters, I can definitely feel their vibes. If you want to take a dip in the atmosphere of your (long gone) teenage romance, this could be a short and bittersweet read (I finished it in three sittings).