BBC did it again. Adopted a book and turned it into a series. A story I didn't know. But a story, I immediately loved.
At the beginning of last week, I joined the usual catch up call in the evening with my co-workers and as usual there was some casual talk involved next to the business talk. Out of nowhere, my colleague asked, who has seen "Normal People". Another girl jumped straight into the conversation, praising it highly. I thought it's a Netflix series, which I am unable to watch as I don't have a Netflix account (surprising, yeah? But true). My colleague declined, saying it's on BBC iPlayer and recommended to watch it. The other girl pointed out how surprising she found that my colleague was watching that kind of movies as it's a very romantic love story. My interest grew and on the same evening, I zapped into BBC iPlayer and watched the first episode.
I loved it. It was gripping. Sensual. Blank. Straightforward. Simple. Then, when I finished the episode and was tempted to watch the next one, I googled the book. As soon as I saw the cover I remember seeing it in the bookshops, reading the back of the book, not getting the connection to the story. Found the cover not appealing at all.
Now I bought it. Received it yesterday, am already halfway through, watched another two episodes out of the 12 yesterday. And am a fan. It's one of those stories you get attached to. The characters become your friends. Part of your life. It's putting me inside the bubble and when I am doing something else, like cooking dinner or doing the cleaning, I am thinking of Marianne and Connell. It's one of those stories. Like Callum and Sephy. Those characters just stick to your mind.
I woke up today, and rather than reaching to my phone and checking WhatsApp messages, I reached over to my bedside table and grabbed the book, to read two more chapters. That is what this book is doing to me. And I am loving it - so much, that I need to force myself to take a break, otherwise I'm finishing the book before I remember that I've started.
Is anyone experiencing the same with books and characters who draw you into their world? If so, let me know and comment below, I am keen to discuss!
https://www.faber.co.uk/9780571334650-normal-people.html
That's the link to the book, for those who are interested 😊
When you see the cover you probably understand why it never appealed to me to buy it - two people hugging each other in a tuna can. It taught me a lesson - even when a cover doesn't appeal to you, give the book a chance. If I had, I would have known the story for longer. Glad I came across it anyway!