Bobbie Dennis

So, as we all bloody know, it’s lockdown week…5? (ironic) (I don’t know) (what day is it again?). From where I’m stood, life is getting a lil foisty. I’m averaging on about two insta stories per day, my eyebrows have become emancipated from my face and I’ve become obsessed with novelty socks. Bobbie? Obsessed? What’s new? Nothing is new!! The emotions r everywhere. I regularly catch myself just staring at the wall thinking about random situations, like that oNe TImE in primary school when I was performing Bop To The Top in front of the whole school and my top fell down exposing my nips to the whole congregation. Mortifying. So vivid. Gimme gimme, shimmy shimmy.

I need space from myself essentially. The only things currently keeping me going is reality tv (post about this pending), having fish fingers on the reg for breakfast and my ~hot date~ walk (strut) with Audible around the fields once a day. Those who have been furloughed/at uni/work part-time PLEASE tell me how you are filling your time, I am genuinely intrigued – what are you doing? What are you watching? And most importantly, what are you reading?? *to the tune of Shakira Whenever, Wherever* However, however, it’s finally time. Sally Rooney’s Normal People is coming out tomorrow on BBC Three.

Before I begin telling you all why this is the best book on the PLANET and why we should give Sally Rooney license to narrate everyones activities anywhere and everywhere at any time, let me paint the picture.

So it’s roughly about half ten at night. I’ve been trying to take a sleep for about an hour now, yes I am a grandma retirement come at me, but the sleep just won’t take me. So naturally, to quell my anxiety and help me drift, I checked my bank account. Big mistake. Huge. Not only am I reminded of the peanuts I have to my name but I see that I’ve forgotten to cancel another free Audible trial (gd start to 2020 Bob). So on the basis of Obama’s recommendations, I spent my credit on this book that I’d heard so much about to help me get to sleep: Normal People by Sally Rooney.

Three hours later, there I was. 1:14. Feeling like I’m in love for the first time again. As we all know, I am the biggest sop to walk the earth (see my previous post) but the way this book is written! It is so raw and none of it is sugar coated, it just encapsulates that feeling of closeness and vulnerability and LOVE. If I have one word to describe Normal People it would be SWOON. If this book were a song it would Ronan Keating, When You Say Nothing At All. It is soppy, shy, romantic and of course, so Irish. The dream.

I don’t want to say too much as I think it’s always better to dive into a book with no preconceptions or too much insight into how the story will pan but it basically it’s set in Ireland and concerns two main characters, Marianne and Connell. Marianne is very wealthy, while Connell isn’t. Connell is very cool and popular, while Marianne isn’t. The book tracks their relationship over the years and encapsulates what it’s like to be young and in loveeeee. It explores class barriers, the switching social hierarchies of school vs university and how these characters contend with social pressures. For both Marianne and Connell, these fluctuate and adapt throughout the story and it follows how their relationship is affected.

I listened to this book in a day. Also, I know some audiobooks don’t compare to reading a physical book but having this book read to you in an Irish accent just transports you into the room with the characters. I’m pretty sure at the time I had a major deadline that I was suppose to finish but I just could not stop listening. It’s the most realistic account of what it’s like to be young and feel the THINGS that I’ve ever read. It’s her writing that makes it exceptional. I genuinely can’t remember the last time I read something that made me feel so strongly, not even a fly on the wall but like I’m the third person in their romance. There was nothing awkward about her writing, it’s like you could feel the closeness between the two characters. I haven’t read any other book that captures intimacy like Sally Rooney does, I literally felt like I was fifteen again.

I know my explanation of this story hasn’t done it justice, independently the plot doesn’t appear on the surface to be anything special but trust me: Sally Rooney is a magician. I’m digressing here slightly but I’m currently reading Sally Rooney’s other book Conversations With Friends. I’m only 80 pages through but my god is it great. This passage in particular proper stood out (I blocked out the name so it doesn’t spoil the story).

Sally Rooney’s writing man, if I haven’t convinced you already hopefully this’ll give you a little glimpse at how brilliant her writing is. She’s just an expert in explaining how fickle and confusing emotions can be.

So consequently, my life plan is now to move to Ireland, find a Connell and get matching pjs together. Although I can’t move to Ireland or even visit atm (if your friends ask you to meet, you should say ‘no’”) nor is there any chance of stumbling across a Connell given the current sitch, this BBC series is going to be the next best thing.

How good does it look though!! Also how peng is Paul Mescal, perfect casting. I’m pretty sure the full series comes out tomorrow on BBC IPlayer. So if you’re looking for something new to watch or read I can’t recommend Normal People enough. I’ll probably end up writing about Conversations with Friends too but for the time being let me know if you read the book or watch the series, I hope you love it as much as I did. Sally Rooney thank u and god bless.

Love, Bobs xxxx

Also here’s just a handful of other good books if you’re looking for some extras to read

• Educated – Tara Westover
• Where the Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens
• Everything I Know About Love – Dolly Alderton
• How Not to Be a Boy  – Robert Webb

Also also, post listening and reading (especially if you’ve listened to their beautiful irish accents for eight hours straight) listening to these songs helped me fill the void after I read it https://open.spotify.com/playlist/76AZbUHQCV1APECIhHUvwP?si=k3nh5QsjRxKuasdxkVbaSw

Also also also, as a treat for reading it this far lol thank you pals, I’m pretty able to send Normal People to anyone for free on Audible. This isn’t one of those i’ll send you a book and i’ll get £5 etc etc, it literally just means you don’t have to buy it and can listen away for free. Not sure why this is the deal but woo! Free books! So yah, drop us a message and i’ll link you to it because it is AMAZING and will make lockdown that little bit better. Hope everyone is safe and okay 🙂