A Review of Sally Rooney’s newest novel, ‘Intermezzo’

Sally Rooney’s newest novel, “Intermezzo,” was released on September 24, introducing its story with a quote by Austrian philosopher, Ludwig Wittgenstein: “But don’t you feel grief now? (But aren’t you now playing chess?).” 

Rooney’s longest novel to date, the story follows two brothers, Peter and Ivan Koubek, each living in Dublin and individually processing their grief after their father’s passing. Peter, a lawyer in his thirties, is successful and socially competent, directly contrasted by Ivan’s insecurity and awkwardness. Ivan is a chess player in his early twenties who finds himself completely caught up in a slow and passionate relationship with Margaret, an older woman with a troubled past. Peter’s own love life is no calmer, as he grapples between two very different relationships with a younger college student, Naomi, and his first love, Sylvia. Sally Rooney’s novels are typically centered around human nature; they discuss love in all its ugly forms and the beauty at the core of being flawed. Her previous novels also delve into an implied political commentary on gender and class, all of which is discussed in the experiences of her characters, who are just as flawed as the political and social systems that Rooney aims to critique. 

Messy yet poignant, this new release has the same wonderful prose we all love and expect from Rooney. It again lacks quotation marks, which blurs the line between thought and reality and truly forces the reader to pay close attention to every word. The humor is dry, possessing a dull wit that will at most cause you to breathe sharply through your nose in amusement. The sex scenes are clinical, but still beautiful in their realism. Despite these similarities to her previous work, this novel is undeniably different from her others with a new and impressive level of sophistication. Rooney has done it all — “Normal People” and “Conversations with Friends” cover the transition from adolescence into university life and “Beautiful World, Where are You” grapples with tumultuous adulthood. Building upon this, “Intermezzo” now discusses two different perspectives, both of which show a different point in life and play even further with coming-of-age themes. 

The story opens by introducing the reader to Peter’s relationship with a much younger Naomi, who depends on Peter financially, a consequence of Peter’s own emotional dependence on her. The power dynamic introduced in this relationship is strained and questionable; somehow, it doesn’t necessarily feel like a power struggle, but rather what can only be described as a toxic push-and-pull between Naomi’s hotheaded youth and Peter’s hesitant maturity. The contrast in their personalities emphasizes the unnatural nature of this pairing, especially due to their age gap. By contrast, Ivan and Margaret, despite their age differences, seem to match each other academically; they fall for one another’s minds, and their relationship thus takes on a more loving tone from the very start of the novel. 

Family also plays a central role in the relationships that the protagonists form. Both brothers have strained relationships with their mother, all while mourning their late father who they were much closer to. Peter and his mother are said to clash due to their similarly dominant personalities. Ivan, on the other hand, views his mother as a figure of authority, but her feelings toward Ivan have soured due to his lack of employment. As a result, Ivan seeks some form of authority and approval in his relationships, while Peter searches for someone more submissive. In an almost Freudian way, they fill this missing relationship with their mother through their partners, contributing to age’s complicated role in “Intermezzo.” 

The title is derived from the word “intermission,” a space between two points in time. This story is just that — told in parts and in-between time, exploring an unprecedented time of grief after death, but before a period of healing. In chess, the word specifically means an unexpected move. This novel is a series of difficult decisions and positions for the characters to be put in. Each move is calculated and has its own consequences. Each line of this novel digs into the reader, resonant and profound. Burying deeper inside of you with each novel written, Rooney’s presence as an author is sharp and clear, like the presence of her characters, who take up space and fill the page to the brim with intellect and wit. 

Finally, this novel is a love letter to literary history. The novel has a list of quoted acknowledgments at the end, ranging from “Hamlet” to “Ulysses.” Rooney herself gets to showcase her literary tastes and inspirations when writing and her literary influences seep into the characterization of her protagonists. Each voice in the novel echoes within the lines; Ivan is soft-spoken and inquisitive, pairing well with Margaret’s introspective tone. Peter’s sterile character pairs rather harshly with Naomi’s carelessness yet has more confluence when speaking with Sylvia. There is no way to describe them besides human. They fit together and they fall apart; they are meant to be in each other’s lives and yet, on occasion, they are startlingly different. By the novel’s end, their voices stay with you and it’s almost as if you can hear the words in your head: “It doesn’t always work, but I do my best. See what happens. Go on in any case living.”

Rather than considering what’s right and wrong, Rooney’s novels encourage asking probing questions. Why are the characters this way? Where do their perceptions come from? Who are they as people? Who are you, the reader? I always come out of Rooney novels understanding myself a little bit better than when I went in. Readers may be lining up in bookstores waiting for the newest Rooney novel. They may still be reading some of her previous works. They may not have heard of her novels at all. Whatever your relationship with her novels, I urge each one of you to pick up “Intermezzo” and transport yourself into a piece of work that will not only evoke thoughtful conversations, but is sure to cue the waterworks by the end. 

Daily Arts Writer Archisha Pathak can be reached at archpath@umich.edu.

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