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Original poster

Sally Rooney’s Normal People BBC

127 replies

HDDD · 28/04/2020 09:23

This book has been on my to read list for a while. I took a lazy punt and decided to watch the 12 part BBC adaptation instead. Now I’m overjoyed I never read it. It fascinated me and irked me in equal measure. I don’t want to give spoilers but the thing that grated the most was the ‘pretty’ thing. I don’t know how much was made of this in the book but Marianne said of herself that she wasn’t pretty at school and blossomed in college. Others also said it of her. She didn’t change the structure of her face! I think I have an irrational dislike of the word pretty anyway, but I’d be interested in other views on this – the pretty thing, and whether this book is indeed a modern feminist classic or mainly hogwash.

OP posts:
tadpole39 · 28/04/2020 09:36

Completely agree, the crawfads book would have been so much more interesting if the woman/child living alone wasn’t stunningly beautiful and amazingly talented. It just seems lazy to go down the path of beautiful women just have problems with men being attracted to them and not exploring in more depth the actual truth of living in a swamp but I guess that’s just a different story. I’d read it tho!!!

Rivergreen · 28/04/2020 09:30

I didn't watch the adaptation, but have read the books. If you don't like the fascinating/irksome feeling then I wouldn't bother. Whether it's on purpose or not, I find that to be Sally Rooney's style. None of her characters are particularly likeable.

I hear you on the pretty thing though. Pretty much very female protagonist is pretty, or even worse "interestingly beautiful" or "arresting".

The worst in recent memory was Where the Crawdads Sing. Girl / woman grows up on a marsh. Doesn't own a thing, and washes in the sea / streams. Yet she is described as being an untamed beauty and attractive to all the guys from the town. Her hair in particular is mentioned as part of the attraction. When in reality, she would be grubby, smelly, with matted hair and bad breath. No on would care what colour her eyes were!

Sorry OP, rant over. And for going off topic Blush

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