On September 24th, Dublin’s bookshop windows were awash in white and blue
as the literary world once again went Sally Rooney mad. Rooney’s fourth novel,
Intermezzo, had readers awaiting its release with anticipation.
Intermezzo feels like a natural progression from Rooney’s previous novel, ‘Beautiful World,
Where Are You?’, It’s maturity is clear. Intermezzo again centers around multiple main
characters, but this time, and for the first time in Rooney’s work, the narrative is told
from the male perspective. Two brothers, 21 year-old Ivan, a chess prodigy and
32 yea- old Peter, a barrister.
Peter dates Naomi, a woman ten years his junior. However,
an old love, Sylvia, is still very much present in his life. Ivan meets Margaret, the
director of the art centre where he plays chess, over a decade his senior.
Rooney’s protagonists feel more introspective, reflecting on their shared past in the
wake of their father’s death, grappling with their sense of place in an increasingly
uncertain world. In classic Rooney style, characters often engage in discussions on
socialism and the challenges of finding “goodness” in a capitalist world.
Ivan and Peter’s frustrations with life make them highly relatable, and nearly every
character uses their own practical outlook to question what truly feels right. This range
of perspectives often leaves the reader understanding, and even agreeing with the
reasoning with both of the brothers.
Perhaps too much focus has been placed on the chess element of Intermezzo in terms
of marketing the book, which might intimidate some readers. However, it played a
relatively small role in the novel and didn’t hinder engagement at all. In fact, the way
Rooney incorporated it was very clever and subtle.
With its layered storytelling and relatable characters, Intermezzo stands as Rooney’s
most accomplished and exciting work, likely to be embraced by both longtime fans and
those new to her writing. The novel’s blend of complex relationships, and cultural
insights create a thoughtful, immersive read that reinforces Rooney’s distinct place in
contemporary literature.
I was fortunate enough to see Sally Rooney at the National Concert Hall before the official
launch and managed to get my hands on an early copy of Intermezzo. A few days later,
walking around Dublin and seeing bookstores filled with Rooney’s books and watching
staff restock shelves that were quickly emptied was a truly wonderful experience. It was
heartwarming to see her work being celebrated in such a big way, and even more so to
see pictures and videos of launch events from all around the world, showing how deeply
her writing resonates with readers everywhere.