Month: June 2021

“Normal People” is a 2018 novel by an Irish author Sally Rooney. The book became a bestseller quickly after it was published, and there are lots of reasons why. It is a fascinating read that will not leave you unimpressed. What is more, there is a very high chance that you won’t be able to put it down which will result in reading this book in just a few days. On the surface, it may seem like it’s another teenage/college drama or a coming of age novel. It is written in a very easy to read manner which makes the book even more enjoyable and appealing. However, so much more can be found deep down if you start digging and analyzing the situations and character’s reactions in the book. Well, let’s start from the beginning and move forward step-by-step while talking about the main characters of the book who show what it’s like to be young and in love, as well as prove that we all are, in fact, normal people.

What is the book about?

The story revolves around two main characters – Connell and Marianne who are teenagers at a school in Ireland. They come from different families. However, soon enough they become friends and start to hook up in secret. Later, both of them decide to go to Trinity College Dublin. Even though they are no longer a couple at that point, they run into each other very often. What is more, they find a way to stay in each other’s lives no matter what they do or how far they are from one another. The main focus of the book is on the intense bond between Connell and Mariane which no one and nothing can break.

Reception

The book was very well received both by readers and by literary critics. The novel was longlisted for the Booker prize in 2018. Apart from that, The Guardian put it on the 25th place on their list of 100 best books of the 21st century.

One of the most notable things the majority of critics mention when they are talking about this book is how easy it is to read, as well as how clean Rooney’s prose is. When you are reading “Normal People ‘” it almost feels like you are reading your own thoughts which is a high praise for a book and for its author. Literary critics don’t forget to highlight the fact that even though the whole story may feel like a beautiful trainwreck, you will hardly be able to put it away. The latter is a testament to Sally Rooney’s brilliant writing.

In 2019 the book was adapted for television, and a TV series aired on Hulu and BBC Three on April 26, 2020. In Ireland, the show aired on RTE One.

A future classic

Almost everyone who has read this book describes it as a future classic, and it is not surprising why. The story is captivating. Yet, what is even more important is that everyone can recognize themselves in this book. In other words, the whole book is very relatable for so many people that it is hard to underestimate its importance for current and future generations. “Normal People ” has the potential of becoming a go-to book for all those teenagers who are experiencing the same things Connell and Marianne have experienced. Reading this book may help you understand that the feelings they have are normal, and the way in which they react to such feelings and situations is normal as well. The more books deal with similar issues, the less trooubed and misundersudood teengaers are going to feel. As it turns out, this book actually symbolizes so much more than one can expect having only read the excerpt. “Normal People” was one of the most discussed books of 2018, and it is quite obvious why. In case you have not read it yet, it is time to get down to it right away. There is no doubt you will enjoy it. Perhaps, you will even start reminiscing about the times when you were a teengaer and experienced exactly the same problems. If the world has not heard about Sally Rooney before, the publication of this book has definitely changed that.

Writing a book review is a relatively common assignment. However, the majority of students still fail to submit an impressive piece of writing for a variety of reasons. Some did not allocate enough time to read the book in question. Others have no idea how to write book reviews properly. There is no doubt that students sometimes forget that the deadline is soon, which is the reason why the quality of paper they submit is very far from what’s expected of them. Yet, there is another category of students who simply decide to type can you help me do my homework into google search instead of allocating time on the accomplishment of the assignment they have been given. No matter the reason, the result remains the same – they get a low grade because of their inability to submit an impressive book review, as well as to meet all specified requirements. If that is the case with you, it is time to learn more about book review writing and to finally figure out how to complete this task perfectly. It may be quite overwhelming at first, especially if writing book reviews is not your strong suit. Yet, all you need to do is to practice. The more reviews you write, the better you become at it. Don’t forget how much time it takes to master the skill of anything, no matter whether it is writing book reviews or building furniture. So, start with the basics and proceed to tackling more complex issues, such as crafting an unconventional book review without anyone’s help. Here are a few tips with the help of which you will finally get a better understanding of how book reviews are supposed to be written.

Talk a bit about the plot

Obviously, you are expected not to reveal anything. However, writing a few sentences about the plot of the book gives those readers who are unfamiliar with the literary work in question a better understanding of what this book is about. A couple of sentences will be enough. If you talk about the plot of the book for more than one paragraph, no one will find your review interesting enough to keep reading.

Focus on the aspects you liked or disliked

This is your review of the book, so feel free to be as subjective as you like. Talk about what you liked about the book, as well as mention how it influenced or resonated with you. Here are a few useful questions you can answer in your book review:

1. Who is your favorite character and why?
2. What emotions does this book evoke in you?
3. Was the story fascinating to keep up with?
4. Do you have a favorite scene or part of the book?
5. Is the story believable?

If there is something you disliked about the book, don’t hesitate to mention it as well. Don’t forget to include a few sentences explaining why you have disliked these aspects of the book. The most important thing you should keep in mind is that your review needs to be honest. If you find the book horrible and feel like you have wasted your time reading it, it is your job to talk about it in the book review. Besides, you don’t have to like everything, especially when the book you were supposed to review was chosen by your teacher and not by you personally. It happens. The goal of this assignment is not to make you like a certain book. The goal is to teach you how to express your thoughts about the book in a clear and concise way in writing.

How to round up your review

The last paragraph is always the conclusion. Sum up everything you said before and draw your final conclusion. State whether you have liked the book or not, as well as dwell upon the reasons why you would either recommend or not recommend reading it. If this book is not for everyone, suggest they type of readers who might enjoy it. If you can compare this book to any other literary work you have read, this paragraph is the perfect opportunity to specify that comparison and to write a few sentences about it.