[Reporter’s Reading] 'Normal People'

(Normal People / Written by Sally Rooney / Translated by Kim Hee-yong / Arte / 14,000 KRW)

Blending Conflict, Anxiety, and Classism in Modern Society

Seems Like a Typical Teenage Love Story

But Shows Comfort and Salvation in Twisted Depths

Delicate as Befits a Booker Prize Nominee

Adapted into a BBC Drama of the Same Name

[Asia Economy Reporter Park So-yeon] The forms of love are diverse. Some love leaves indelible scars, while others plunge one into endless helplessness. Yet, perfect love draws out the kindness hidden deep within the heart and heals each other.

'Normal People' depicts the process of two men and women raised in distorted environments saving and developing each other into 'normal people.' If the lovers in the movie 'La La Land' (2016) are those who support each other's dreams, the lovers in 'Normal People' comfort each other's twisted depths and become the strength to stand again in the world.

The protagonists Marianne and Connell are neighborhood friends. Marianne, from a wealthy lawyer family but raised amid violence, has a haughty and prickly personality and is ostracized by friends. In contrast, Connell grew up in a blue-collar single-mother household but is popular among friends due to his grades, character, and personality.

Connell picks up his mother, who works as a cleaner at Marianne's house, every day. One day, as they frequently meet and build their relationship, Marianne confesses to Connell, "I like you," and the novel begins to unfold in earnest. Judging by the plot alone, it seems like a common teenage love story, but as you read, it intricately portrays the intimate psychology of humans, befitting a Booker Prize nominee.

Author Sally Rooney captures the inner conflicts and anxieties faced by the millennial generation, as well as the classist aspects of modern society, with delicate and precise descriptions within the familiar story of love and growth between a man and a woman.

Though the male and female protagonists are in polar opposite situations, they desperately understand each other. Their relationship, which starts as a 'some' (flirtation), leads to secret afternoon meetings unknown to their friends. They become close. However, Connell fears friends who dislike Marianne and tries to hide their relationship. He even chooses another girl as his prom partner instead of Marianne. Marianne, shocked and hurt, drops out of school and disappears.

The following year, as college students, they meet again at a party. But the situation has changed significantly since high school. Marianne is popular enough to host parties with wealthy friends. Poor Connell is an outsider with no friends.

They cautiously restart their relationship as friends. But when together, they realize they experience a fulfillment, comfort, and complete understanding that no one else can provide. They fall in love again, believing they are destined to save each other's lives.

'Normal People' vividly portrays their changing appearances, dynamics, and intimate first love through processes like prom and college admission within social relationships. Reading it evokes memories of genius authors who depict the language of sensitive and wounded souls like J.D. Salinger (1919?2010) and Osamu Dazai (1909?1948).

Connell and Marianne are close to soulmates. However, initially, Marianne's social status as a high school 'outsider' and their economic differences that become apparent in college make them close yet distant. Yet, when together, they understand each other better than anyone else in the world. Still, in social relationships, they cannot openly show this, leading to awkward misunderstandings and damage. In their complexes and clumsiness, they hurt each other and grow apart.

Nevertheless, they are drawn to each other like a powerful magnet. They realize each other's preciousness, but the final obstacle is the festering wound inside Marianne, who grew up in a violent home.

Marianne, who acted more maturely than anyone else during her teenage years, is crushed by her wounds as an adult. She cannot overcome the scars inflicted by her parents and brother during her growth and endlessly drives herself into self-abuse. Connell remains a good friend and lover who tells her she is not a broken being but a precious person worthy of love.

Connell also opens a new chapter in his life with Marianne's help. Originally, he planned to become a lawyer for a stable life. He did not realize that he reads novels whenever he has time and finds joy in immersing himself in them. However, Marianne recognizes and supports Connell's hidden dreams and talents, suppressed by economic insecurity. She becomes a supporter who fully understands his literary world.

The message that love devoted in ordinariness is perfect love and that precious love continues like destiny may seem clich?. But what makes us accept it as truth is the author's writing skill.

Born in Ireland in 1991, the rising novelist Rooney received high praise as the 'Salinger of the Snapchat generation' and the 'Fran?oise Sagan of Dublin (a port city in Ireland)' with 'Normal People.' Since its publication, 'Normal People' has been selected as 'Book of the Year' by major U.S. media and translated into many languages worldwide, selling over one million copies. The novel was adapted into a BBC drama aired this year. Rooney debuted in 2017 with 'Conversations with Friends,' immediately attracting attention from critics and the publishing world.