'Normal People' Book vs. Show Review
Daisy Edgar-Jones & Paul Mescal in Hulu's 'Normal People'
I feel like the book and series contrast so well with one another that I can’t really tell which I like more. Without the show, I wouldn’t have envisioned the book so well or enjoyed it with the vague descriptions and background Sally Rooney gives on the characters, and likewise, without the book, I wouldn’t have completely told what was going on in Marianne and Connell’s minds. There were several points in the book where I unveiled a thought the characters had which I wasn’t able to make out in the show. And there are also several points in the show where they portrayed more of the couple’s intimacy with one another than what was found in the book.
THE CHARACTERS
There was a sort of nostalgia in watching the show and the couple grow in and out of each other's lives that made your insides ache. Seeing the show alone, I never thought of myself to be anything like Marianne, but now reading the book and re-witnessing her whole story, I realize that if I had to choose a character to associate as being like myself, it would be Marianne Sheridan.
At times a person will make eye contact with Marianne, a bus conductor or someone looking for change, and she’ll be shocked briefly into the realization that this is in fact her life, that she is actually visible to other people.
Page 197 of 'Normal People'
Both Marianne and Connell's characters are very humane and the main attraction found between the lines of this book is the intimacy they share with one another. The way the book is written made me realize that inside, actions are not what mainly matters but the thoughts and feelings you hold for another person.
Marianne is an odd girl to most people, seen as self-absorbent for speaking her thoughts aloud. And Connell is a shy guy, liked by everyone but still struggling to not fall into the world as just another living being with no true purpose to society. Eventually, we find the two grow up and gradually accept that their lives are not meant for the world of people to enjoy, but their own, thanks to their company and support despite growing apart several times.
Episode 8 of Hulu's 'Normal People' where Connell and Marianne discuss their social differences
NORMAL LIVES
Sally Rooney allows her readers to hope for what the characters have, or see themselves through their lives and thoughts. Normal People is often referred to as a boring book where nothing exciting happens starring excruciatingly awkward characters in love, and that is true. Often, fictional books are sought to be an escape from the real world full of boring lives, but this book serves as the exact opposite. Sally Rooney’s books including ‘Conversations with Friends’ and ‘Beautiful World, Where Are You’, all represent the days we usually circle around in.
She knew that if she wanted to speak, everyone would probably turn around and listen out of sincere interest, and that made her happy too, although she has nothing at all to say.
Page 119 of 'Normal People'
The show was nothing but humane and intimate, and the book was all just the same, not any better or worse. I get people’s critique and confusion over Sally Rooney’s writing and the people that like it, and I was scared of purchasing the book, thinking it wasn’t going to live up to the beauty that Hulu’s limited adaptation was, but it gave me a sense of satisfaction reading Marianne and Connell’s thoughts. Upon writing this and noticing all the closeness of the book to my own life and personality, despite only living a quarter of the life I wish to live, it made me realize that no other title than “Normal People” would fit this heart wrenching story.
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by Isobelle Cruz, 25/05/2022
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Not BPD related but.
I love American Horror Stories on Hulu. Just watched the new Dollhouse episode. I love how they all somehow tie in to the original American Horror Story show and I really love short horror stories. It's kinda brilliant of Ryan Murphy for making it. I wish they put all of season 2 on at once. Also, I was singing Melanie Martinez's song Dollhouse throughout the episode...it felt right...D-o-l-l-h-o-u-s-e.... Go back to being plastic! 🎶
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wasnt one of the bad guys
bad guys name nico from the elevator, god are they mocking him? hmm?
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Can you imagine Carmen laughing at the reader not knowing something because he is in love with her and finds it cute and offends her without meaning to?
“What?! Crunchy food makes us think it tastes better?” You exclaimed, standing in the kitchen with your phone in your hand after looking up recipes for you to use together.
Carmen paused.
“Yeah, baby. Texture means freshness and quality. That’s why so many dishes have an element of crispiness,” he explained as if it was something so common, so basic like first grade math.
“Oh…” you start going through different meals in your head and slowly realise that it actually makes sense.
“Are you… being serious?” He chuckles.
You furrow you eyebrows, taken aback. “Yeah…“. Obviously.
“How can you not know this?” Oh, he is soo amused by this, look at him smile, like a fucking Cheshire cat, ear to ear. What’s so funny about that?
“You know, I was never trained as a chef,” you say bitterly.
He laughs. He is so fucking smug.
You roll you eyes and pull him roughly to you by the hoops of his jeans. Your fingers swiftly move to the buckle and a cling is heard as you start undoing his belt.
“What are you doing?” he is still laughing at you.
“Maybe this way you’ll shut up”.
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