I’m not making an attempt to be dramatic, however I genuinely assume Sally Rooney is my Taylor Swift. The best way Swifties dissect a Taylor album or vault observe with detective-like ardour—attempting to find easter eggs, discovering hidden meanings, and connecting deeply together with her lyrics—is precisely how I method a Sally Rooney novel. If she ever went on an Eras-style tour, performing spoken snippets from her books, I’d be entrance row each evening. Whereas some readers really feel this reference to Sarah J. Maas’ romantasy epics or Emily Henry’s heartwarming rom-coms, for me, Sally Rooney’s existential, character-driven novels are an unparalleled expertise.
So when Rooney introduced the discharge date for her newest novel, Intermezzo, I instantly added it to my calendar. After months of anticipation, I binge-read it in a single day, and now I’m right here to interrupt down if Intermezzo lives as much as my sky-high Sally Rooney expectations—and whether or not you need to run to your nearest bookstore to purchase it.
Sally Rooney
Peter and Ivan Koubek appear to have little in widespread. Within the wake of their father’s passing, every brother is processing grief in another way—Peter is medicating himself to sleep, whereas Ivan begins courting an older girl. Intermezzo is an exquisitely shifting story about grief, love, and household―however particularly love―from Sally Rooney.
What’s Intermezzo about?
In case your information of Sally Rooney begins and ends with the Hulu adaptation of Regular Individuals—which we’ve to thank for the unimaginable items which are Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar Jones—let me provide you with a fast intro to her writing model. Rooney writes modern fiction that portrays the intricate, typically messy dynamics of contemporary relationships. Her characters are famously flawed, emotionally advanced, and sometimes horrible at communication, making them really feel extremely actual. Rooney excels at articulating the feelings you’ve by no means been in a position to categorical and turning them into elegant, poignant prose that speaks on to your soul. Her novels don’t hinge on plot however as an alternative unfold slowly by way of deeply introspective character research, and Intermezzo is not any exception.
In Intermezzo, we comply with two brothers, 22-year-old Ivan and 32-year-old Peter, as they navigate life after their father’s loss of life. Ivan, a chess champion, begins a relationship with 36-year-old Margaret whereas grieving. In the meantime, Peter, a lawyer, juggles two relationships: one with a 23-year-old faculty scholar and the opposite along with his ex-girlfriend and longtime love. Ivan and Peter couldn’t be extra completely different, and thru their contrasting approaches to ladies, the world, and one another, Rooney explores themes of loss, remorse, and self-reflection.
My overview of Intermezzo
Intermezzo seems like a slight departure for Rooney—it’s probably not about romance. Whereas difficult relationships are on the forefront, the guts of the story lies within the bond between the brothers. On this means, Intermezzo most intently resembles Lovely World, The place Are You, because it facilities on a platonic relationship relatively than a romantic one. Initially, this focus threw me off, as I’ve come to count on sure tropes from Rooney. However as I received to know the characters, the core of the story revealed itself, and it was definitely worth the shift.
The novel alternates between Ivan, Peter, and Margaret’s factors of view, and every perspective feels distinctly completely different. Typically, with a number of POVs, I really feel like I’m simply studying an writer narrating the characters’ ideas nonetheless within the writer’s voice—however not with Rooney. Her potential to craft language that mirrors the thought patterns of her characters is a part of what I really like most about her writing (and why I really like her controversial abandonment of citation marks in dialogue).
I genuinely felt as if I used to be thrust into every character’s thoughts whereas studying their perspective. Written in a detailed third individual, Ivan’s chapters really feel anxious and introspective, drawing you into his overanalytical mind, whereas Peter’s chapters are clipped and matter-of-fact, reflecting his stark, rational worldview. At first, the shift between views feels jarring—like leaping into an icy pool—however as you learn, you heat as much as every character’s voice, leaving you immersed in an unforgettable studying expertise.
With Rooney’s writing, we get to know the characters deeply. This character-to-reader intimacy has by no means been stronger than in Intermezzo. Peter and Ivan are each consistently reflecting on the life they’ve lived, in a means that solely grief can encourage. They each, relatably, are determined to show to themselves that they’re, at their core, good individuals. They scrutinize each thought and feeling they’ve towards a nonexistent rubric of morality, harshly assigning themselves the grade they assume they deserve. This inside battle is common, and Rooney captures it with precision. In a determined try to excuse actions that don’t measure up, they blame the opposite brother for in some way inciting their struggles. Remorse for his or her previous actions, how they spent their youth, and the way they handled their father gas the brothers’ actions.
For me, Intermezzo is Rooney’s first true household drama, and he or she handles it superbly. She captures the complexity of navigating what a sibling relationship means while you not share childhood. She expertly writes the push and pull of familial love, and the distinctive, invisible tether that binds relations, even when life takes them in numerous instructions. Chess serves as the right car for Rooney’s metaphors all through the novel. Her characters at all times appear to be making strategic strikes, taking part in a sport, with an insatiable want to win—though they aren’t fairly certain what the prize they’re competing for is. There’s no happily-ever-after in her world, however the endings at all times really feel trustworthy, bittersweet, and unusually satisfying.
My solely critique is that this ebook can really feel gradual, and I really like a slower-paced learn. In case you desire fast-moving tales, you may discover your consideration wavering. With that stated, I cherished spending time with the characters with out speeding to the following viewpoint. You’ll be able to really feel the burden of seemingly small, insignificant occasions wreaking havoc on their unconscious, revealing their interior turmoil and providing extra perception into the characters than a plot twist ever may.
Do you have to learn Intermezzo?
Sure, however know what you’re entering into. Intermezzo is superbly written, with prose, themes, and characters that really feel deeply actual. But it surely’s additionally a ebook that requires a specific temper. You might want to be able to dive into the flawed, typically uncomfortable minds of Ivan and Peter, and you’ll’t count on a fast-paced plot. In case you’re in a reflective headspace, Intermezzo is a must-read. Additionally, be ready to cry—and that’s coming from somebody who hardly ever sheds a tear whereas studying.
Sally Rooney
Peter and Ivan Koubek appear to have little in widespread. Within the wake of their father’s passing, every brother is processing grief in another way—Peter is medicating himself to sleep, whereas Ivan begins courting an older girl. Intermezzo is an exquisitely shifting story about grief, love, and household―however particularly love―from Sally Rooney.