Author: Belinda Sanders-Carr

Week Three: Book vs Show

Belinda Sanders-Carr Week Three

For my third and final entry I wanted to look into both the book and the show to establish the differences – or if there even are any. I do just want to address the joy I get from seeing words on a page become a successful show. The way my imagination is able to ‘come to life’ is one of my favourite aspects of book adaptations but sometimes the process from book to screen means changes in the storyline…

One of the main ‘differences’ is the way we, as viewers instead of readers, are let into the unspoken dynamic of Marianne and Connell’s relationship. Through the visuals of a show it’s obviously easier to portray certain feelings and silence without stating it directly. Below is an edit of a scene from the show with the words from the book overlaid which shows us the true differences, even though they are subtle.

@mariannesheridans

your sign to read the book #normalpeople #normalpeopleedit #marianneandconnell #mariannesheridan #connellwaldron #paulmescal #sallyrooney #booktok

♬ original sound – 🐈

Another of the changes from book to to screen is when Connell pours his heart out to Marianne over the phone. From reading the book, I know this phone call happens but what he says is the missing piece.

I don’t think one beats the other, I think they both perfectly express Normal People. 

Week Two: Show Review

Belinda Sanders-Carr Week Two

This week I rewatched Normal People on BBC iPlayer and so here is my review. The adaption, in my opinion, has been executed perfectly, from the way it was casted and the chemistry portrayed between Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones to the shot choices and cinematography. Every single specific choice allowed for the achingly powerful and heartbreaking story to unfold episode after episode.

 

One of my absolute favourite aspects of the show is the way a thousand words are said even when no words are spoken at all. Mescal and Edgar-Jones create this beautiful unhurried pacing through their pauses that shines a spotlight on the weight of their emotions. There isn’t an ounce of rushing from the pair during the entire series and I feel that this ideally reflects the story of your first teenage love.

The show also conveys the layered journeys you go through as a young person from school to university – locating to relocating, finding friendship and loosing it again but most prominently it redefines heartbreak as the courage of having once loved. I have compiled some of my thoughts surrounding these topics in this video below focusing on episode 10…

If you were to ask me, Normal People is a show that just has to be watched – but make sure you bring tissues.

Week One: Book Review

Belinda Sanders-Carr Week One

For week one I thought I would try and collect all my thoughts about the book. I think the main reason I enjoyed it is because of the raw relatability that Connell and Marianne have throughout the ups and downs of their relationship.  To me personally, I feel that Rooney manages to portray a real truth about so many young peoples experiences with love and life during thier school years.

Usually I would’ve said that in a story you only form a deep connection with one character but for me both Connell and Marianne show differing sides to themselves that allow me to relate in an almost opposite but equal way. Their characters reflect people I have met in my life and I even see myself in them – which is why I feel I could read this book over and over. Connell and Marianne are so endearing yet incredibly frustrating to read about in the best ways – they are normal people going through normal things in a normal way. I feel that this TikTok describes this well…

@crystabelfaith

this book made me discover that literary fiction was a thing and now its my fav genre lol. connell and marianne are imprinted in my brain fr #booktok #normalpeople #connellwaldron #mariannesheridan #sallyrooney

♬ limerence – ✿

 

So, Rooney was able to create a story enabling me to escape life through nostalgia and sentimentally all with the power of words.

About me…

Belinda Sanders-Carr About me

My name is Belinda and I’m currently studying at the University of Brighton. Now more than ever our generation is addicted to our phones – even though we may never admit it. I realised recently that the hours I spend scrolling aimlessly through social media isn’t doing me any good. I needed to find something else to fill my time that could positively impact my life and mental health, and that’s when I chose to pick up a book…again. I remember when I was younger how much I used to love reading and the escape that came along with it and thought to myself that getting lost in a book could be the exact thing I needed.

Since reading more books, I have found myself being drawn to the TV/film adaptations and seeking out how they may or may not differ. Therefore, here I will be focusing on one of my favourite book to screen adaptations of Normal People by Sally Rooney.