Sally Rooney’s New Novel Takes On A Devastating Theme
The writer who can move millennials like no one else can is back with another novel, and we absolutely cannot wait to read it. Sally Rooney, arguably one of the most famous modern-day writers, has just published her fourth book titled Intermezzo. Something to add to your must-reads for the year – here’s everything we know about it:
What is Intermezzo about?
Published by Faber, Intermezzo deviates from Rooney’s signature themes that centre around complex modern relationships and social class inequalities to take on the consequences of the death of a loved one. Described as “an exquisitely moving story about grief, love and family, the plot centres around two brothers, Peter and Ivan Koubek, as they navigate the aftermath of their father’s death. Peter is a successful 30-something lawyer in Dublin who is medicating himself to sleep and struggling between his relationships with two women in his life. Meanwhile, his brother, a 22-year-old, socially awkward chess player, meets an older woman with a turbulent past. The brothers find their lives mingling, as they struggle with their own versions of grief. As the summary of the book reads, “For the two grieving brothers and the people they love, this is a new interlude – a period of desire, despair and possibility – a chance to find out how much one life might hold inside itself without breaking.”
After three miraculous books, Sally Rooney’s millions of readers will recognise the beauty and insight, the pain and hope that radiates from this new novel.
Publisher Alex Bowler says, “After three miraculous books, Sally Rooney’s millions of readers will recognise the beauty and insight, the pain and hope that radiates from this new novel. But it marks an exquisite advance, too, in the work of a writer who seems so attuned to our lives, our hearts and our time.”
What else do we know?
The cover of the book is designed by Indian-British designer Kishan Rajani. In an interview with Vogue India, Rajani says, “Whilst designing the cover, my intention was to give focus to complex relationships which Sally so brilliantly articulates in her novels…I’ve illustrated brothers Peter and Ivan Koublec, and using forced perspective, provided a lens through which the audience might be able to consider their relationship, and how it may unfold in the novel.”
Whilst designing the cover, my intention was to give focus to complex relationships which Sally so brilliantly articulates in her novels.
The author of Conversations with Friends, Normal People and Beautiful World, Where Are You, Sally Rooney has reached stratospheric success, with her novels becoming international bestsellers and translated into over 40 languages. Two of her books were adapted to television shows for the BBC – Normal People (Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar Jones) and Conversations with Friends (Alison Oliver, Jemima Kirk, Joe Alwyn, Sasha Lane), successfully creating their own Sally Rooney cinematic universe. Rooney herself was listed among TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in global culture in 2022. For fans of her work, it’s been a long wait for Rooney’s next book, but hopes are high and the anticipation is real, as we get our hands on Rooney’s next masterpiece.
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