By Sally Rooney
Reviewed by Lucy Hearne Keane
Sally Rooney’s new book, Intermezzo, deals with the topic of family relations and how bereavement and grief deeply affect the fragile relatonship between two brothers coming to terms with the recent death of their father.
The older brother Peter, who in his 30s’, is a practicing lawyer in Dublin, and although he appears quite successful, he is struggling to cope with bereavement and maintain relationships with two very different women, Sylvia and Naomi. Sylvia, a university lecturer, is a previous girlfriend whom he still loves, but who has been injured in an accident which has complicated their relationship. Naomi, on the other hand, is ten years his junior and a university student who leads a somewhat chaotic life.
In contrast, the younger brother Ivan, who is 22, is a college graduate and competitive chess player, finds social interactions difficult but nevertheless finds love through a chance encounter with an older woman Margaret. She also has a turbulent past and struggles with her family and community’s views on getting involved with a younger man.
This well written and extremely perceptive book covers major life themes including loss and grief, complex sexual relationships, age differences and societal expectations, mental health and addiction, and, ultimately, redemption and healing. All handled sensitively by an author at the pinnacle of her craft.
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