Sally Rooney's Intermezzo

By Arushi Bhardwaj

3rd Year, BA Programme (English + Psychology)

Imagine if Woolf’s stream of consciousness came alive in this era or the dilemma of everyday life that Plath experienced was to be written in this age. The result would be Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo, a book so humanly written, it encapsulates the essence of a meaningless but profound experience called life.

Quoting the book:

“The demands of people do not dissolve; they only multiply. More and more complex, more difficult. Which is another way, she thinks of saying: more life, more and more of life.”

Now this quote though starts on a note of despair and helplessness, but Rooney’s writing turns it into a sentence brimming with possibility and hope, which is all any of us want in this arduous journey called life.

The story follows two brothers Peter and Ivan Koubek who are dealing with life and simultaneously the aftermath of their father's inevitable death due to cancer. Unlike her previous novels that centered on romantic relationships, "Intermezzo" primarily examines the intricate and often fraught connection between siblings. Peter, a lawyer and Ivan a chess prodigy, tied together by family, represent two lines that only come close when circumstances force them to. Both brothers go through their respective lives through a great number of painstaking decisions that they have to make. Peter's struggles with mental health are sensitively portrayed, adding another layer of depth to the story.

What makes this an exceptional read is the way the story is placed; it seems like nothing is happening but then simultaneously everything seems to be changing. Rooney's signature sharp prose and insightful observations about human behavior continue to be a hallmark of her work. While some readers may find it slower paced than her previous works, the nuanced exploration of family dynamics and the complexities of human relationships makes it a compelling and thought-provoking read.