Welcome to Litsy!

I did love the story and themes of this novel which are right up my alley, but I couldn‘t get over the multipage paragraphs with dialog and no quotations marks. For some reason seeing an entire wall of text page after page made turning the page feel overwhelming and had a surprisingly large effect on the quality of the reading experience for me. I might just be in a reading funk?

For some reason it has taken me way longer to get into this book than her last few novels, but I‘m halfway through now and finally getting hooked into the story.

Thinking about that day, the dog running for the tennis ball, the pasta they ate together, the feeling wells up inside of him painfully. Wanting to say and hear the words again, that can never again be said or heard. To return to the house once more, and not find it dark and empty, but airy and bright again with open windows. To spend an afternoon together, playing with the dog, eating dinner, doing nothing, only being together, just once more 🏠

Three main characters who each are struggling through grief and other issues tell this character driven story. I liked Ivan and Margaret so much- though the plot is subtle, the pages are turned quickly with general curiosity of how all of this will end. Great read!

An intimate story about two brothers with strained bonds working through grief in different ways after the passing of their father, while also in complicated and unconventional romantic relationships. A depiction of the different shades of masculinity. Rooney as usual relies on rich intertextuality and research to enhance the intellectuality of the novel. Repetitive in parts but a beautifully written work. Narration on Audible is excellent.

Really liked Normal People. Really didn‘t like her last book which I believe I bailed on due to lots of boring people having meaningless conversations. This one is magnificent. Two brothers and the three women in their lives. And their relationships with their parents. Every word that they speak is very real, very believable. Every situation is very true. I really feel like I read something here.

4.5⭐️/5⭐️

8-31 Oct 2024
Two very different brothers in the immediate aftermath of the death of their much loved father.
Whilst there were many characteristics of Rooney‘s previous books, I enjoyed the differences in Intermezzo - the focus on male characters and in particular the happy ending. Ivan‘s chapters were easier to read but once I grew accustomed to the style of Peter‘s voice, I also enjoyed his story.

Masterful storytelling and sentences that sing with artful rhythm. Her best work yet.

This is the first time I read a book by this author and it took me a while to get used to the writing style, which included lots of inner dialogue and some incomplete sentences. Once I did, I got hooked on the story and although I found myself wanting to yell at the male characters at times due to their poor communication skills, I got attached to them. The female characters were strong and likeable. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the digital ARC. 4/5

By god, Sally Rooney, you‘ve done it again. Our best living fiction writer idc idc!! (Photo taken seconds before Theodore tried to take a chomp of out the book lol)

She‘s back! Loved this book. Also, the lack of communication which is classic Sally Rooney didn‘t lead to the characters ruin, as it has in the past. The ending was happy :)

I enjoyed this more than BWWAY. The story of 2 brothers Peter and Ivan, I love how intimate & fly-on-the-wall it is, giving us a sense of real people. They‘re complex & flawed so we sympathise with one, then the other. Their conflicts feel true, details add texture. Explores siblings, grief & changing relationships. Some plot points felt contrived but it was an immersive reading experience.

I‘m so behind on my book reviews! 🫠 stand by for a batch of them coming soon (after I‘ve had a coffee 😅) … 📚

Yes: I loved INTERMEZZO, the new novel from the brilliant Sally Rooney.

First Rooney, and enjoyed the experience, mostly. Not a 5-star for me due to its length, which made me feel like the story was dragging at times.

Even though I enjoyed this one, it does not make me curious enough to read her backlist.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We made it through the first quarter of the school year! Time to enjoy a long weekend filled with books. I'm finishing up the tagged book while Lucas enjoys Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. 🤍📚

I‘m ready to name this as the best of Rooney. Brothers Ivan and Peter are each dealing with their grief over the loss of their father. They have issues with each other, and are searching for connection. Each finds it with the women in their lives. Tangled up human emotions abound. I loved it and I adored the audio narration which added to the experience.

Happy Friday, littens! 💕📚 Who else is super hyped for the weekend?!

What a beautiful book, Sally Rooney gets right into the characters minds and hearts. She writes relationships and life with such intimacy and insight. I could relate to all of it and was moved to tears. I loved it. A page turner for me.

I am such a fan of Rooney‘s writing, and this book was as exquisite as anything she‘s written. Her ability to capture emotions and human imperfections and interactions on the page is just astounding. I was sad to leave these characters at the end of the book and they are going to stay with me for a long time.

I loved it and had to wait a few days before picking up another book which is unusual for me. Even now, other books seem bland in comparison. Each character resonated with me and I‘m enjoying being in their company still.

I have never read a worse piece of ableist bullshit. The fact that Sylvie feels she shouldn‘t be in a relationship because she‘s disabled is just such bullshit. I know this is supposed to be a great meditation on grief but the founding principle of that grief is embarrassingly faulty. People in chronic pain do not need this message. I really hope it turns around in the last 80 pages bc otherwise I want to throw my copy off a bridge into the river.

Like Sarah said already, this book is so good. The development of Rooney‘s characters is so well done. About halfway through and it‘s hard to stop reading.

(Another sculpture in a 200-acre field in Vermont.)

@sarahbarnes

This book is transcendently good. I can‘t put it down; I never want it to end. It‘s been very good company during my waiting around for ballet to end time this week. 📖

First Rooney…I‘ve always been hesitant to read her (I feel it might not live up to the hype for me), but this one really intrigued me!

Very excited about Rooney‘s newest novel about two brothers.

There is no such life, slipping free: life is itself the netting, holding people in place, making sense of things. It is not possible to tear away the constraints and simply carry on a senseless existence. People, other people, make it impossible. But without other people, there would be no life at all. Judgement, reproval, disappointment, conflict: these are the means by which people remain connected to one another.

So excited! I‘ve been holding onto a B&N gift card for this. And there‘s a bonus short story included! 🎉

I‘m in a reading slump yet I run out & get this right away. So not in love with the cover. My excuse to go to the bookstore was Halloween card shopping!🎃

I'm always nervous starting a highly anticipated book, but Sally Rooney did not disappoint. Character based and introspective, this novel explores themes of grief, relationships, sibling dynamics, and life (its meaning, how we create a life, and the question “Is it enough to simply be?“). Rooney deftly illustrates the frustrations of trying to be understood and understanding each other. (Release date 9/24/24)
And speaking of sibling dynamics 😺🐱

Edgar helped make the beds and then promptly fell asleep. I dipped back into Rooney's Intermezzo. Only 20% in but am enjoying it so far.

Scored this ARC on Sunday and managed to squeeze in a little reading time before the crazy work week. Seriously cannot wait to dive in again!