Conversations with Friends: A Novel
NOW A HULU ORIGINAL SERIES - From the New York Times bestselling author of Normal People . . . "[A] cult-hit . . . [a] sharply realistic comedy of adultery and friendship."--Entertainment Weekly SALLY ROONEY NAMED TO THE TIME 100 NEXT LIST - WINNER OF THE SUNDAY TIMES (UK) YOUNG WRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD - ONE OF BUZZFEED'S BEST BOOKS OF THE DECADE - ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Vogue, Slate - ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Elle Frances is a coolheaded and darkly observant young woman, vaguely pursuing a career in writing while studying in Dublin. Her best friend is the beautiful and endlessly self-possessed Bobbi. At a local poetry performance one night, they meet a well-known photographer, and as the girls are then gradually drawn into her world, Frances is reluctantly impressed by the older woman's sophisticated home and handsome husband, Nick. But however amusing Frances and Nick's flirtation seems at first, it begins to give way to a strange--and then painful--intimacy. Written with gemlike precision and marked by a sly sense of humor, Conversations with Friends is wonderfully alive to the pleasures and dangers of youth, and the messy edges of female friendship. SHORTLISTED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD "Sharp, funny, thought-provoking . . . a really great portrait of two young women as they're figuring out how to be adults."--Celeste Ng, Late Night with Seth Meyers Podcast "The dialogue is superb, as are the insights about communicating in the age of electronic devices. Rooney has a magical ability to write scenes of such verisimilitude that even when little happens they're suspenseful."--Curtis Sittenfeld, The Week "Rooney has the gift of imbuing everyday life with a sense of high stakes . . . a novel of delicious frictions."--New York "A writer of rare confidence, with a lucid, exacting style . . . One wonderful aspect of Rooney's consistently wonderful novel is the fierce clarity with which she examines the self-delusion that so often festers alongside presumed self-knowledge. . . . But Rooney's natural power is as a psychological portraitist. She is acute and sophisticated about the workings of innocence; the protagonist of this novel about growing up has no idea just how much of it she has left to do."--Alexandra Schwartz, The New Yorker "This book. This book. I read it in one day. I hear I'm not alone."--Sarah Jessica Parker (Instagram)
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Community Reviews
I always feel engaged in the writing of Sally Rooney. This book was a really interesting lense into what a relationship means whether it be friendship or romantic involvements. I felt it frustrating at time to be apart of Francesâ psyche and her being unable to attain growth and/or be décisive. I felt like the only time she realized she could be if when she was cornered by Bobbi or needed to be vulnerable by Nick. Though I think it was the point to make her frustrating and also force the reader to self reflect about their abilities to confide in people around them. I do enjoy how Sally Rooneyâs books dissect the mental processes of her characters and the banter in this book was overall charming. I wish it was a little more conclusive with Frances being with Bobbi and coming into her own rather than continuing the cycle with Nick â but unfortunately I think that is the point â she can only be vulnerable with him and wants what he can give her no matter the circumstance which I do think impedes her from herself.
âWas âkindnessâ just another term for submission in the face of conflict? These were the kind of things I wrote about in my diary as a teenager: as a feminist I have the right not to love anyoneâ
A great read. The characters feel so real and I couldnât put it down.
A great read. The characters feel so real and I couldnât put it down.
Loved it, read it in a weekend. I love imperfect characters that are flawed and human, I loved the repartee. It expanded my mind re: monogamy and what it means to partner with someone, what it means for a relationship to be a success. Different strokes for different folks. I read that some of the criticism is that the characters are unlikeable. I think that's my accolades.
Definitely kept my attention. I think reading Normal People before this book, made me pick apart this book. There were a lot of similarities with the main characters in both books. Yes, same author, I get it… Regardless of that, I did enjoy the book, even though Frances may have got on my nerves sometimes.
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