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5 Books To Read If You Loved 'Conversations With Friends' and 'Normal People'

Just in time for summer reading season. - by Maeve Galea
  • 14 Nov 2019
5 Books To Read If You Loved 'Conversations With Friends' and 'Normal People'

Last summer it seemed like carrying a Sally Rooney book was the ultimate Instagram status symbol. However, that's not to say both her novels are not just as absorbing as the buzz would suggest. I'm yet to meet someone who didn't completely love her books and devour them in only a few days. The problem is if you're like me and read Conversations With Friends and Normal People back-to-back last summer, you're in the uncomfortable position of being completely hooked on the young Irish author while being left with nothing to feed your Sally Rooney addiction.

Well you're not alone. My group chat is full of messages asking for recommendations for books ”like Normal People" and so here I have compiled a list of books that are beautifully written with clean prose that reveal certain simple yet profound truths about people, human relationships and love. Some of them are Rooney-esque for their instances of everyday tragedy, while others have the similar impact of teaching you something worthwhile about yourself as you read.

I think even if she never publishes another book (although I hope that’s not true!) Rooney’s legacy will be reminding an entire generation about the absolute pleasure of reading. And now that we’ve been reminded, there’s a whole world of books out there to enjoy.

1. Mr Salary by Sally Rooney (Faber, $7.99)

A short story by Rooney herself, I stumbled across this tiny gem in a Melbourne bookshop without even knowing it existed. It may only be 33 (small) pages but it packs a punch and in classic Rooney style expertly builds sexual tension while still managing to reflect delicately on both love and death. It’s a small dose of Rooney, but I guess that’s better than nothing.

audreybooksum View Profile
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I 🖤 Sally Rooney * I fell in love with Sally Rooney's writing when I read Normal People, like a lot of people did. I loved her ability to create tension, describe such ordinary events in life (like sex and love in college) in such a literary way. * My favorite kind of book is a book that is about love, but does so in a very literary way, where the extreme pain associated with love is innately laced with the intense pleasure of love. Books like Call me by Your Name and Normal People do this for me. These kinds of books are so inherently different than romance novels, which I also appreciate, but I love these so much more. * So, I picked up Mr. Salary in Prague and read the whole thing while leaning over the Charles Bridge (swoon). What impressed me the most about Mr. Salary was how Rooney could create tension and an intense feeling of love in such a short span. * I knew that Rooney was an expert at the novel, but now I also know that she is an master at the shirt story as well. Five stars for me! * Who else has read Rooney, and who else has read Mr. Salary? * #bookstagram #girlswhoread #vscoreads #booksharks #booksparks #travel #greece #athens #literarylandmarks #bookishtravel #literarytravel #literarytravels #SallyRooney #mrsalary #normalpeople #prague #praha

2. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami (Random House, $19.99)

I read this book after hearing that it's Harry Styles' favourite. The start is slow but by page 50 you will be totally obsessed. Murakami is the master of communicating profound thoughts with clean and simple prose. Much like in Normal People this is a poignant story of one university student's romantic coming-of-age and takes us to that distant place of a young man's first, hopeless, and heroic love. If you don’t believe me, take Harry Style’s word for it. This year he told Rolling Stone “It was the first book, maybe ever, where all I wanted to do all day was read this”.

whatshotblog View Profile
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I started Norwegian Wood a week ago but I was trying to read in a busy and loud space so I couldn't get into it. I know this is a book I'll want to savour so I'm putting it down until finals are over and my head is clear ☁️ What's your favourite Murakami novel? #whatshotbooks

3. The Course Of Love by Alain de Botton (Penguin, $19.99)

My favourite book of all time, The Course Of Love is unlike anything else I’ve ever read. it’s a story of a perfectly average, normal, couple living mediocre lives from the time before they meet, and after. What makes it remarkable is how de Botton puts his protagonists and the notion of romanticism itself under the microscope. Peppered in the pages is commentary from de Botton, a philosopher, narrating as a god-like figure and revealing his protagonists inner thoughts. Both beautiful and insightful this book is hard to explain but easy to read. 

ourbooketlist View Profile
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The Course of Love by Alain de Botton Publisher: Penguin @penguinukbooks De Botton has a very distinct writing style in this book which took me a couple of chapters to adjust to. From the outset, you know Rabih and Kirsten's marriage is going to become troublesome and that one of them is going to cheat (this isn't a spoiler! It's mentioned in the book description on many websites 😄) The only thing you're left to wonder if who it will be and how it will conclude... I found that this make it extremely hard for me to invest in a relationship that you expect to crash and burn, though I did enjoy the story nonetheless! Throughout, little anecdotal messages are sprinkled between paragraphs offering thoughts on romance, marriage and parenting - the former reminding me of the intermintent clips in the 80's Rom Com, When Harry Met Sally. I did like this one, but I suppose thats all I can really say, is that I liked it... Nothing much more and not much less... Although I was glad for de Botton's realist offering into an, almost, two decade relationship and his removal of rose tinted glasses - R.

4. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara (Pan Macmillan, $19.99)

Not for the faint-hearted, this book is heavy, both in weight and subject matter. Relentlessly sad and exquisitely written, if it was Rooney's imperfect characters with damaged souls that gripped you in Normal People and Conversations With Friends then A Little Life will totally consume you. A modern-day classic this book, set in the unforgiving, grimy, magical streets of New York City will stay with you long after you put it down. Just don't forget to keep a box of tissues nearby at all times. 

shetellsastory View Profile
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It's a little life .. 🌿 Indeed. __ We get swamped in life, adulting and the responsibilities that suddenly falls upon us and have to be done. Work, work and work some more. Become the success you crave and strive for better, always. BUT, remember to take care of yourself, take a break and do something you love. Dedicate an hour a day for YOU; read, pointlessly watch TV, eat a whole pizza, get a mani-pedi, sit back and do nothing, look at the wall, go on a photography walk by yourself, take a brush and colors and just splash. DO SOMETHING FOR YOU. ... You may not know this but i'm a stress bomb walking on the planet, i get anxious and worry about the smallest things. Some days are good, and others are so bad i'm unable to focus on anything. I know that, and i learned how to manage it. I'm still learning, but now i know that the most important thing in life is for ME to be comfortable, happy and content; that's how i can be able to take care of others, love them and be the source of joy. Example: Coffee time in the morning is a do-not-disturb time, it's #metime! Make your own rules and break them if you want. ... Recommend a good #mentalillness read 📚 and to be honest, i read half of this book and broke down in tears and couldn't bear to continue. Why i still have it? Because it's a challenge, one day i'm going to be able to pick it, read it and finish it. __ #alittlelife #selfcare #readersofegypt #loveyourselffirst #mentalillnessbooks #shetellsastory #bookstagram

5. One Day by David Nicholls (Hachette Australia, $22.99)

 If it’s the love story of frustration and yearning between Marianne and Connell that got you hooked on Normal People then you will love David Nicholls One Day. Spanning concurrently the lives of two people over 20 years Nicholls gives the reader snapshots of his star crossed lovers lives & relationship in flashes, like flipping through a stack of old Polaroid’s. This story highlights that life and circumstances can change so quickly at times, and sometimes not at all. Funny & moving, this one will give you all the feels. 

daisylily98 View Profile
10 likes - View Post on Instagram
The tears this book has caused are cooling me down in this heatwave. #bookstagram #imonlytenyearslate #summerreading #onedaybook
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Maeve Galea
Maeve Galea is the contributing culture editor at marie claire Australia. When she's not reading Malcolm Gladwell books (or listening to his podcast), you'll find her sipping mimosas and/or doing a face mask.

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Kendall Jenner asks Harry Styles which song of his is about her
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