Why Normal People Love Sally Rooney

By Meghan Calderon

Gen Z, Millennials

Sally Rooney is the “first great millennial novelist,” according to the New York Times. She became the talk of the town shortly after releasing her debut novel in 2017, Conversations With Friends, which took her only three months to write. Since then, the Irish author and screenwriter has published three books, two of which have been adapted into television shows. The thirty-one-year-old has gained popularity within a short time, and for a good reason. Her writings reflect a range of experiences tailored to a generation that came with the rise of a life lived with technology. But if so many others have tried at this, what makes Rooney the Salinger of the “Snapchat Generation”? The increasing following of her novels stems from her realistic and wise characters, her discussions of current and critical global issues, and her narratives allow one to believe that our pleasure is just as important, even above our better judgment. 

Why is Rooney’s work so highly regarded as generation-defining commentary?  Unlike many authors, Rooney doesn’t attempt to justify her characters’ actions or make heroes out of them. They are authentic representations of young adults today, allowing the masses to relate to them. Rooney makes an impression by making her readers feel compensated for being young women, as well as by making her characters intelligent and self-aware. It’s almost comforting to know that others are experiencing the same existential dread that you are. Novels that give new readers something to empathize with will make them feel validated, resulting in adoration for a writer. 

The pathological internet users that Rooney appeals to are the same generation who faced growing threats of climate change, political polarization, and gun violence. Although her novels can be closely compared to the works of Hemingway and Salinger, she’s different in that she doesn’t write from a straight, white male’s point of view. Her stories are much more femme, queer, and represent many different minorities. According to the Human Rights Careers Magazine, the top current global issues are poverty, climate change, healthcare, LGBTQ+ rights, gender equality, corruption, etc., and Sally Rooney addresses them all. In Sally’s latest novel, Beautiful World, Where are you?, the main character remarks, “So of course in the midst of everything, the state of the world being what it is, humanity on the cusp of extinction, here I am writing another email about sex and friendship. What else is there to live for?”(146). Rooney’s willingness to entwine age-old questions with current world issues  makes has made an immense impact on her audience. In this novel especially, her characters discuss the limitations of capitalism, global climate, and more while also touching base on their relationships. On top of addressing some of the most common problems, she also sheds light on subjects that are not often talked about. For example, in her debut novel, Conversations With Friends, a female character suffers from endometriosis, an extremely under-researched condition that affects one in ten women. Although it strikes so many, it is seldom talked about and echoes the lack of gender equality in the medical field. With so many challenges in today’s society, the generation that has experienced these affairs firsthand is looking for writings with truth, but also with some levity. Sally Rooney’s novels don’t ensure that we’ll be saved and protected from the world, but they help readers process the inexplicable things in life. 

On top of Sally’s many ways to allure new readers, she adds to the list by creating narratives that allow one to believe that our pleasure is just as important, even above our better judgment. Amid frustrations and contradictions we may have with ourselves, Rooney’s words assure us that it’s okay to prioritize ourselves as well as the pleasures that come along with the dangers of youth. In the individualistic and fast-paced world that we live in, the idea of doing something for yourself makes readers feel better about themselves. Rooney’s works make the newer generations believe that it’s okay to put themselves first sometimes and validates the self-destructive behavior that young people have. 

Much like with all else,  Sally Rooney’s work has been criticized and regarded with distaste by many. Some may also feel uncomfortable by how regularly Rooney writes about traumatic experiences and political stances. The appeal should be strongest for young adults who have faced many hardships throughout their life and that are too aware of themselves and the world around them.  All in all, imperfection is at the heart of all of her novels. Her “protagonists” are intensely flawed human beings that make egotistical mistakes, and that’s the whole point. 

The best-selling author has used her words to embody an entire generation with gem-like precision by maintaining the perfect balance between escapism and the authenticity of life. Her works, reticent and analytical, counter this question by addressing the individual, the universe, and everything in between.