Didn't think much of Normal People

[Susanna85]

I keep seeing love for Normal People online.
I read it and then watched the BBC series.
Perhaps I was expecting more, given the show's apparent popularity.

I thought it was alright as a book but completely forgettable afterwards. And the TV episodes were not captivating, I began scrolling through my phone etc. Why is everyone loving it so much!? Or is it just clever advertisement

I’m with you @WombatChocolate.

I hated the SM scenes with a side helping of coercive control, they upset me as it was so clear she hated it. I thought it was excellent on consent and the condom sound effect added to the message. My university experience was reflected so I had no issue with that. My problem was that there wasn’t a single character I liked or cared about.

I thought it was excellent.

It was uncomfortable viewing at times but some of the very very real common issues that it explores are uncomfortable.

The acting was excellent. I’ve seen a few interviews with the 2 main characters and they seem very lovely. It’s the best thing I’ve watched in a while.

Me neither, didn't make it past episode 1. Tedious.

Same, had it recommended by a colleague, we watched one episode and I was bored by it. Not bothered about watching anymore.

Of course YANBU.

I can’t stand Eastenders, millions of people disagree.

I actually thought the first couple of episodes were very good and I binge watched as I liked the story - when they were in sixth form etc. Then the first time they fell out (chiefly because they didn’t talk to each other properly and got in a strop because they misunderstood something), I was a bit and then that was basically all that happened about ten times for the rest of it.

I wanted to knock their heads together and tell them to get a sodding grip. And then when they were finally ok with each other at long last, they split up.

"I wanted to knock their heads together and tell them to get a sodding grip."

I was shouting at the screen when he wouldn't tell her that he wanted to stay with her over the summer. But I think these types of misunderstandings are pretty common in real life too.

I thought the acting was really good (especially Connel's therapy scene, I cried a bit then) but the story was really quite repetitive. And I feel like Connel had the same open mouthed expression on his face for most of it .

I loved it but it reminded me of my bougie university and teenage affairs. Also thought the acting was fantastic and the sex scenes some of the most realistic I’ve ever seen.

I didn’t like the book at all - found it really dull and wanted to bang Connell and Marianne’s heads together. I thought the series was excellent - made a brilliant job of bringing the dull writing to life and I thought the cast was amazing.

I'm up to episode 11, I've persevered but not really enjoying it. Connell just annoys me so much. Everyone seems to love him but I dont think hes a good guy. Why don't they talk to each other properly? Theres too much brooding

I thought it was both enlightening and frustrating in equal measures, fwiw.

The acting was superb and lots of the uni stuff did resonate with me, right down to the supremely self-absorbed, unreliable friend (Peggy)!

I don't think being a popular teenager at secondary school is about looks, it is largely about being conventional, self confidence and being interested in popular culture. M's beauty is irrelevant at the school as she refuses to fit in. I thought that was sort of the point, that if it was enough, Connell wouldn't have been secretive and being open about his true feelings.

"Connell just annoys me so much. Everyone seems to love him but I dont think hes a good guy. "

He was horrible to her at school, but it became clear that he was as troubled as her in his own way. I also think he's just gorgeous in the series and I don't normally swoon after male actors.

"I don't think being a popular teenager at secondary school is about looks, it is largely about being conventional, self confidence and being interested in popular culture. "

Partly, yes. I was in the uncool group, the goody two shoes types. However, the better looking ones among the 'swots' did sometimes become popular with the cool group. Some of them could switch over - I had a friend who took up smoking to get into that crowd for example.

I’m enjoying it, some of it you can relate to as a teenager trying to fit in with your peers. Marianne is stunningly beautiful.

One of those books where you admire the work that went into it and think it’s “well written”, but wouldn’t actually recommend it to anyone.

I really loved the book and read this right after which I think was a bit much as it's extremely faithful to the book so I was bored as I'd just experienced it all. I still have 3 episodes left to watch and no rush to watch them... but I think everyone involved did well and the two leads were great. It's well done.

I think it must seem odd to anyone who hasn't read the book and knows their internal monologues though. I really liked those in the book and in SR's other book... but I find she's very much like marmite!

Personally find the recent trend of glorification of self-absorbed characters with mental health issues a bit grating too. It’s a novel which thinks it should/needs to have something to say about society (social class etc) but, like most modern literature, doesn’t actually know what that it is. So instead it just goes for vague noncommittal mirroring of “confused society” with “confused individual”, with an added sprinkling of random sexual violence for shock value.

@Settle59 the David Nicholls book you're thinking of is 'Us', which I enjoyed earlier this year

I thought it was frustratingly dull at times. The actors were good enough but yes very forgettable.

Haven’t got beyond episode one. I thought the actors seemed much older than sixth formers - keep thinking I should persist as so many people are raving about it. Does it get better?

On one of the other threads there are a lot of Irish and Scottish posters saying how much it reflected their experiences growing up in a small rural community and moving to the big city for University, I found it incredibly nostalgic. Amazed at people saying they didn't have intellectual conversations at Uni, being opinionated and pretentious is part of what going to Uni is about surely. Or maybe I'm just old, reading the book I was more interested in Lorraine and Denise and I do want Sally Rooney to away and live life and grow a bit and come back at 40 with more to say to balance her talent.

Dull and infuriating. It could have easily been six episodes, Marianne is too beautiful, it didn't make sense that she would be shunned at school and Connell would be ashamed to be seen with her. He is a big, dull lummox, sitting around with her intellectual friends and not saying a word. Whole episodes go by with tons of shagging followed by awkward silences. Neither of them seem to get much out of the relationship. Where was the fun and excitement and joy of being young and in love? Those two might as well have been in their forties.

@dayswithaY agree with everything you say