Sally Rooney’s latest novel, Intermezzo, presents a complex portrait of grief, family dynamics, and human connection through the lens of two Irish brothers navigating life after their father’s death. Like her previous works, it has generated passionate responses from readers—some calling it her finest achievement, others finding it tedious and inaccessible. The truth, as often happens with ambitious literary fiction, lies somewhere in between.
What Works Well
Character Development and Emotional Authenticity: Rooney’s greatest strength remains her ability to create characters that feel genuinely human. Peter (32) and Ivan (22), the central brothers, are rendered with psychological complexity that many readers found deeply relatable. Their individual ways of processing grief—Peter’s chaotic internal monologue and Ivan’s more methodical approach—reflect real differences in how people navigate loss. The supporting characters, particularly the women in their lives (Sylvia, Naomi, and Margaret), add layers of complexity without feeling like mere plot devices.
Exploration of Grief and Family Dynamics: The novel succeeds in its tender examination of how grief can both isolate and eventually reconnect family members. Rooney captures the particular challenges of sibling relationships when there’s a significant age gap, showing how major life events can either drive people apart or bring them together. Many readers appreciated the realistic portrayal of how loss reverberates through extended networks of relationships.
Distinctive Writing Style: When it works, Rooney’s experimental approach to prose creates an immersive experience. Her stream-of-consciousness technique, particularly in Peter’s sections, effectively mirrors the fractured nature of a grieving mind. The lack of traditional dialogue markers and the fragmented sentence structure can feel innovative and emotionally authentic.
Where It Struggles
Accessibility and Pacing Issues: The novel’s most significant weakness is its demanding prose style, which many readers found genuinely difficult to follow. The first several chapters, in particular, present a steep learning curve that caused numerous readers to abandon the book entirely. Even those who persevered often noted that the pacing drags considerably, with some sections feeling unnecessarily extended.
Inconsistent Execution: While some readers praised the experimental writing style, others found it inconsistent and distracting. The contrast between Peter’s fragmented internal voice and Ivan’s more straightforward sections worked for some but felt jarring to others. Several reviewers noted that the technique sometimes seemed like a barrier to understanding rather than a tool for deeper insight.
Ending and Resolution: The novel’s conclusion proved divisive. While some readers found it emotionally satisfying, others felt it was rushed or overly optimistic given the complexities established throughout the story. Some critics noted that after hundreds of pages of careful character development, the resolution felt somewhat unearned.
The Broader Context
Intermezzo represents Rooney’s continued evolution as a writer, moving away from the more politically engaged content of her earlier works toward a more purely psychological exploration. This shift pleased some readers who appreciated the focus on intimate human relationships, while disappointing others who valued the social commentary of her previous novels.
The novel also grapples with contemporary Irish identity and the complexities of modern relationships, themes that resonated strongly with some readers while feeling overly familiar to others. The chess metaphor woven throughout the story—Ivan is a chess champion—works for some as a symbol of strategic thinking about life’s moves, though others found it underutilized.
Final Assessment
Intermezzo is neither the masterpiece some claim nor the tedious failure others describe. It’s a challenging novel that rewards patient readers willing to engage with its experimental style and slow-building emotional architecture. Rooney demonstrates considerable skill in psychological portraiture and creates moments of genuine insight into human nature.
However, the novel’s demanding prose style and deliberate pacing will likely frustrate readers looking for more traditional narrative pleasures. The book requires significant investment from readers, and while some found this investment rewarded, others felt it was unnecessarily difficult.
For readers who connected with Rooney’s previous work and enjoy literary fiction that prioritizes character development over plot momentum, Intermezzo offers a meaningful exploration of grief, family, and human connection. For those seeking more accessible storytelling or faster-paced narratives, it may prove more frustrating than fulfilling.
The novel succeeds best when viewed as an emotional journey rather than a traditional story, making it a book that will likely find its audience among readers who appreciate psychological realism and experimental prose, while potentially alienating those who prefer more conventional narrative approaches.
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