On the front Normal People is a fresh honest story about…normal people.
It’s about connection, (poor) communication, culture as class performance, and coming of age. Humming along in the background is a story about the ease with which men can walk through the world and how women have to fight to get noticed, or even unnoticed. Simultaneously a converging story of class and insecurity. So much insight and observation has been packed into this novel it’s amazing how addictive and readable it is.
Not a reflection on the writing or story, which I loved and devoured in one day, but being in a hetero relationship seems so exhausting. Ready to break up at every moment your partner finds someone else attractive or gets talked to at a party? The jealousy, poor communication and constantly worrying that attraction cancels out love. So much pressure. I don’t know how ya’ll do it.
I’m exhausted for them.