[Text ID: And in the morning I wake up feeling almost painfully happy. To live with someone I really love and respect, who really loves and respects me—what a difference it has made to my life. Of course everything is terrible at the moment, and I miss you ardently, and I miss my family, and I miss parties and book launches and going to the cinema, but all that really means is that I love my life, and I’m excited to have it back again, excited to feel that it’s going to continue, that new things will keep happening, that nothing is over yet.]
I love you. I’m not just saying that, I really do.
Her eyes fill up with tears again and she closes them. Even in memory she will find this moment unbearably intense, and she’s aware of this now, while it’s happening. She has never believed herself fit to be loved by any person.
Sally Rooney, Normal People.
Marianne told him this thing about her family. He didn’t know what to say. He started telling her that he loved her. It just happened, like drawing your hand back when you touch something hot. She was crying and everything, and he just said it without thinking. Was it true? He didn’t know enough to know that. At first he thought it must have been true, since he said it, and why would he lie? But then he remembered he does lie sometimes, without planning to or knowing why. It wasn’t the first time he’d had the urge to tell Marianne that he loved her, whether or not it was true, but it was the first time he’d given in and said it.
He’s not someone who feels comfortable confiding in others, or demanding things from them. He needs Marianne for this reason. This fact strikes him newly. Marianne is someone he can ask things of. Even though there are certain difficulties and resentments in their relationship, the relationship carries on. This seems remarkable to him now, and almost moving.
I know I’m not a great guy, he said. But I do love you, you know. Of course I do. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before, but I didn’t know if you wanted to hear it. I’m sorry.
I was smiling. My eyes were closed still. It felt good to be wrong about everything. Since when have you loved me? I said.
Since I met you, I would think. If I wanted to be very philosophical about it, I’d say I loved you before then.
I feel so frightened of being hurt — not of the suffering, which I know I can handle, but the indignity of the suffering, the indignity of being open to it.
…while the meaning of life remains the same always — just to live and be with other people?
(beautiful world, where are you? - sally rooney)
this book makes me very very very happy i just had to draw the characters and (im sorry a bit of spoiler) their future based on alice and eileen’s last emails.
(anyway if anyone love this book too, please gush about it with me hahaha)
my favorite parts of this book (SPOILER)
eileen’s theory about how in the midst of progress, human’s meaning of life remains the same, to live and be with other people.
felix telling alice about how he thought alice wont be happy when he sliced his hand and how nice it is to have someone who would care about something like that and if alice isnt feeling well he would want to know and he’ll look after her if she wanted him to.
alice crying while listening to felix singing
simon’s come to my apartement there’s ice cream and no roommates message to eileen
“im never good at being looked after” simon and “watch and learn” eileen
simon’s “but if you think there’s any chance that i could make you happy, i wish you would let me try”
felix’s “i dont think you like me more. i think we like each other the same. i know i dont show it in my actions all the time, but i can try to be better on that. and i will try. i love you, alright?”
‘Alice Kelleher: my boyfriend has never read my books’ headline
alice’s email about simon crying of happiness when she told him she’s pregnant and she’s keeping it.
everything else in the book lol
forgot to mention it’s an 18+ novel so kiddos dont read this book but anyway the SWEETEST smut ive read on a published book!!!
okay done, this book is just pure serotonin for me
