Intermezzo: A Novel

I loved Intermezzo! Sally Rooney just gets relationships. How people misread each other, mess things up, and still keep trying. Her writing feels so natural, but every line hits in that quiet, emotional way she does best. The characters are messy and frustrating but also SO real, and I got completely caught up in their dynamic. There aren’t huge dramatic moments, but somehow, the smallest interactions feel massive. And, of course, the dialogue is just so good.

I had always considered reading Sally Rooney’s books to be a guilty pleasure. However, after reading “Intermezzo”, I realized that there’s a deeper layer to her novels beyond the surface-level themes of sex, drugs, and messy relationships. This novel explores the concept of what we want others to be versus accepting them for who they truly are. Through the journey of two estranged brothers, Peter and Ivan Koubek, we learn valuable lessons about self-acceptance and the complexities of human relationships. The relationship between the Koubek brothers captures a core reason why I keep coming back to Rooney’s novels. Her ability to delve into human behavior through the brothers’ inner monologues, unsaid words, and spiraling actions is truly remarkable. Rooney has a knack for capturing the chasms of misunderstanding that exist between people, mirroring everyday interactions with uncanny accuracy. Moreover, if you have a sibling, this book will resonate with you on a deeper level. Rooney uses the brothers as a representation of the two sides of the human brain, each with its own desires and approaches to life. The strained relationship between them mirrors the torn nature of a confused soul, and when their differences overlap, violent reactions are inevitable. Rooney’s true masterstroke in “Intermezzo” lies in her exploration of how the lens through which we interpret the world skews our language and ultimately impacts our ability to communicate and connect. She delves into the question of how we make sense of our lives when a major event shatters our preconceived notions of the future. All of this is set against the backdrop of contemporary social issues such as equity, agency, abuse, and modern relationship structures. “Intermezzo” may be Rooney’s finest work yet, and it is undoubtedly a worthwhile read.

A slice of grieving a loss of life and the process of accepting things as they are.

A rather hard read.

I liked it! Probably could’ve been cut in half and just as effective, but an interesting story nonetheless.