Hi Bob! Thanks as always for your thoughtfulness. I really appreciate you addressing the "Sally Rooney" effect and how that can actually distracts from her craft and spot on insights. Love your show. Plus great shirt!
I've been waiting to hear your thoughts on this! It wasn't my personal *favorite* of hers, but I can see that it is her best work from a craft perspective
New subscriber 🎉 I really enjoyed your video. I especially loved your use of the word "crystalized" talking about Peter and Ivan's relationships. I've got A LOT of thoughts about this book and am definitely going to pump out a video of that soon.
Whenever I see a review of a Rooney book I feel like I must be a far worse reader than I think I am. There is obviously something there that I don’t see.
Same. I thought it was a lot of big words lacking substance. I never felt I got to know the characters very well despite spending so much time in their heads. It was also very formulaic in structure so I concluded either Rooney isn't for me or I'm missing something
I enjoyed Intermezzo more than her previous books. I know some of that may be immediacy bias. However I loved Peter in particular. There was a really good exploration of grief, masculinity, sex, intimacies….
I’m trying to decide whether I should just dnf Intermezzo. I’m so bored and find Rooney’s writing flat, her characters so sad/uninteresting. She may just not be my cup of tea. I finished Normal People this month and felt the same way. I actually thought she was quite flippant in her handling of serious topics in NP. Thanks for your thoughts, maybe I’ll persevere.
Hi Bob! Thanks as always for your thoughtfulness. I really appreciate you addressing the "Sally Rooney" effect and how that can actually distracts from her craft and spot on insights. Love your show. Plus great shirt!
Hello! Thank you so much! And yes, I find that the conversations about her often seem to overshadow any conversations about her work!
Your description of the Rooney Effect is spot on and very lovingly put! :) Wonderful review of yet another banger from Sally.
Thank you so much!
I've been waiting to hear your thoughts on this! It wasn't my personal *favorite* of hers, but I can see that it is her best work from a craft perspective
Thanks, and yes! I’m intrigued to see where many people place it among hers!
New subscriber 🎉 I really enjoyed your video. I especially loved your use of the word "crystalized" talking about Peter and Ivan's relationships. I've got A LOT of thoughts about this book and am definitely going to pump out a video of that soon.
Thank you so much! And thanks for stopping by!
I will be reading this over the weekend. Saving this review for after that.
Ooh, I hope you like it!
Whenever I see a review of a Rooney book I feel like I must be a far worse reader than I think I am. There is obviously something there that I don’t see.
Aha, not at all! I keep being surprised how some of the books have landed with me, but I can see why they’re not everyone’s cup of tea!
Same. I thought it was a lot of big words lacking substance. I never felt I got to know the characters very well despite spending so much time in their heads. It was also very formulaic in structure so I concluded either Rooney isn't for me or I'm missing something
"the Sally Rooney effect" is so true!
This was my first Rooney book, and I liked it a lot. The exploration of grief and relationships was well done.
I enjoyed Intermezzo more than her previous books. I know some of that may be immediacy bias. However I loved Peter in particular. There was a really good exploration of grief, masculinity, sex, intimacies….
Yes! Definitely agree- I think she gets to the heart of men’s vulnerabilities really well!
I’m trying to decide whether I should just dnf Intermezzo. I’m so bored and find Rooney’s writing flat, her characters so sad/uninteresting. She may just not be my cup of tea. I finished Normal People this month and felt the same way. I actually thought she was quite flippant in her handling of serious topics in NP. Thanks for your thoughts, maybe I’ll persevere.
Aha, totally fair! I can see why it’s divisive! Normal People didn’t fully work for me, so I get that!