Anyone watching “Normal People”

I have binged watched it and regrettably only have two more episodes to see. I think the two leads are superb, particularly the young man, I believe I'm right in saying he'd done a few ads, one for sausages in Ireland and not a lot else, he's a natural. In episode 10 he is seeing a psychiatrist and the angst and emotional turmoil displayed by him, in not a lot of words is so believable and moving. I didn't rave over the book, thought it was just okay and somewhat over hyped, but the outstanding acting has elevated the dramatisation to a whole new level. Critics of "Normal People", I imagine won't appreciate the pace, which is pretty slow at times. Incidentally, we are also watching "The Sopranos" at the moment, my son sent me the box set for the lockdown and whilst I'm appreciating that series as well, it is certainly of the crash bang, wallop, bang! bang! bang! variety so in a way this wonderful adaptation is the perfect antidote to the furious pace of that.

I never read the book, the hype surrounding it discouraged me. A teenager's rite of passage did not appeal and neither did the TV series. I haven't read it so I should not judge, but it seemed unsubstantial and aimed at a young audience. I also read the Will Self article regarding the book, he claimed that a few years ago ' Normal People' would have been classed as a 'young adult novel'.

I m really enjoying this I think both the leading actor and actress are really believable and really good I can feel for them both,
unlike you flexible I was shy and not confident in myself and my looks/ body etc that I lived through a lot of angst some of which has stayed with me throughout life I m a bit of a ‘schizophrenic‘ in my feelings which can go from confident in some situations to a surface acting cool but underneath gibberish wreck in others
I m really tempted to binge watch it but I want to have something to look forward to each week there’s precious little on the tv

I've never read the book but have just finished watching the series on i player and enjoyed it. They were nothing like me as a teenager but I could still relate to their angst even made me glad that I was always very forthright and knew exactly what I wanted and very happy in my own skin, not everyone is so fortunate. I found the main characters very believable.

I watched the whole series on BBC Iplayer. I thought some of the nudity and sex scenes were unnecessary but some were completely necessary. The emotions and misunderstandings due to not communicating fully were well played/written and I could really relate to them. The way both the main characters were out of their comfort zones in opposite scenarios was interesting. It touched on some current issues, body dissatisfaction and depression. In all I enjoyed the series and look forward to the next.

Watched the first 3 episodes last night on I player, after reading these reviews. Have never heard of the book.
Thought how pretty Marianne was, and felt for her with her flat chest as I was always flat chested. Wore my blazer all the time in class, even in summer, to try and disguise my lack of inches.
Will keep watching. Don’t mind the slowness, think the lead actors are
doing a good job.

It was a pleasant holiday read but not much more. It might have made a couple of hours of drama but it seems to be the fashion now to make books into much longer series than they deserve.

I watched the second episode last night and really enjoyed it I think it’s well done and well acted I can so remember the dreadful teenage angst with boyfriends I have a lasting memory of one chap I went out with he was older with a car and very very attractive to me, after a number of dates (no ‘full on’ sex those days) anyway after a few heady dates I whispered in his ear I love you he said nothing and never turned up for the next date never saw him again after that
So funny to look back on now but a broken heart then
I m enjoying it

Also reading it for book club...I’ve got about halfway through and found it good at the start but it’s not holding my interest now. On the other hand I’ve watched the first few television episodes and think it’s being rather well done, so I’ll probably read and then watch or maybe vice versa.

I read the book and thought it was over hyped, having said that I'm enjoying the series, especially as I have forgotten bits about how their relationship unfolded. I don't mind the slow pace at all, I think the two leads do justice to the roles of Marianne and Connell, although I think the actress who plays his mum, looks a bit too young to be credible. I remember her from the recent "Dublin Murders" also think she is a good actress. I don't often find a dramatisaton better than the book, but as in the case of "Elizabeth is Missing", I think this is.

I tried but lost the will to live after 20 minutes. Not “my thing”.

I think it's really well done and I'm enjoying it - I liked the book but the books that I really love I keep and this one I gave away. I think the TV adaptation is better than the book.

From my recollection, the book doesn't fully explain why the mother - and more paticularly the brother - are so horrible to Marianne.

After taking it slowly, we watched the last three episodes last night, and we both enjoyed it (despite being 70-somethings, we can remember the throes of young love!). My husband wouldn't normally like something like this, but he found it very moving and we talked about it during the day, quite a recommendation. The actors were brilliant, and although there was a lot of sex, I certainly wouldn't call it "posh porn" as a critic did in the paper. I didn't understand the brother or mother, perhaps I will get the book from the library - if things get back to normal, that is.

I agree with you Suziewoozie, I’m glad I stuck with it and by the end I had become very emotionally involved with the two main characters. It was slow moving and the sex scenes did become rather tedious but the emotional content was exceptional and I thought it was beautifully portrayed by the two leads.

I’ve watched the 1st 2 episodes and think it’s unlikely I’ll watch anymore. Drags on a bit.

Sparkle I felt the same, and wasn’t even in lockdown when I read it.

I didn't enjoy the book and gave up with the TV drama after 20 minutes. During lockdown isolation I am not in the mood for teenage angst.

I quite enjoyed it which is unusual for me because I am not usually keen on dramas. But thought I would give it a try and, happily, I am looking forward to the next episode

Unbelievable characters. Boring.

I didn’t mind it and thought the girl was rather pretty and interesting although rather mature for what 17/18 but it really was just about how many places you can have sex in
My daughter texted me and said that was the most boring thing she’d ever seen
Does it go on for long ? And does it get any better ?

Haven’t read the book, but have watched first 4 episodes whilst doing the ironing, yes it’s slow, but after the first episode it improves, I thought it quite a sweet story of first love, lies, deception etc.

I don't mind "slow" books and drama if I believe in the characters and the situations in which they find themselves - and find them interesting.

Seeing people running round streets, driving fast cars, unearthing mutilated bodies, etc, etc, - as is quite common in many dramas these days - can, in my opinion, be very uninteresting.

Perhaps everybody has got too used to "fast" books, films and TV programmes. To some extent, I include myself in that. I used to love the series of Inspector Morse with John Thaw. Watching them more recently, I found them rather slow and I think that's because a lot of drama has become very action orientated and plot-driven these days, and not so much care is given to creating believable and relatable characters.

I plodded through Conversations with Friends and was underwhelmed.And decided not to bother with any more of the authors books so the TV adaptation didn't appeal either.I may watch later without DH but we have plenty of other programmes lined up to watch -so I doubt I will.

I haven’t read the book but watched it last night - I thought it was beautiful and its pace did justice to the experiences of the young couple. I can see its subtlety and nuance wouldn’t appeal to everyone.
mum does your username mean you have never been a mother to teenage girls? Of course they wear matching underwear ( ime)

As it was in hardback when it was suggested for book group, we read her first instead, "Conversations with friends," dreadful! So won't be be bothering.