Farrar Straus & Giroux
Sally Rooney’s latest is a masterclass in wit, heart, and the delicate dance of human connection
October 25, 2024
In a recent review, a publication asked if there was a better writer at work than Sally Rooney right now. It’s a question worth pondering over. Rooney’s writing commands a vast audience — diverse in its backgrounds and reading habits alike.
You can see why if you pick up her latest novel, Intermezzo. It showcases her signature blend of wit, emotional depth, and insight into human relationships. Set in Dublin in 2022, the story revolves around two brothers, Peter and Ivan, both grappling with their father’s recent death. As they navigate grief, their tangled love lives add layers of tension and comedy.
Rooney excels at capturing the subtle dance of conversations, imbuing them with both humour and poignancy. With her characteristic sharp dialogue and finely drawn characters, she digs into the messy, unspoken dynamics that define our closest relationships. Perhaps The Guardian best sums it up when it says, “What makes Rooney so electrically compelling is the way she sticks with a scene and draws it out, often just the delicate dance of talk between two people in a room.”
Intermezzo brims with life, love, and Rooney’s deliciously richest portrayal of emotional entanglements yet. Is she the best writer of her generation? Only time will tell. For now, Rooney certainly continues to captivate.