Sally Rooney - Intermezzo (Faber & Faber, 2024) ***

"Intermezzo" brings the story of two brothers: Peter is a lawyer in his thirties, and Ivan is a chess prodigy in his twenties. The story starts after the death of their father, which forces both brothers to face a new reality, bringing them together, or rather confronting them. Peter has a girlfriend who was in an accident and their relationship is compromised as a result, which makes him enjoy life - and sex - with the much younger Naomi, who sees life more as a joke. Ivan meets the much older Margaret at a chess game and they start a relationship. 

The chapters are written from the perspective of the two men, almost alternating, in a totally different style. Peter's stylistic voice is nervous, with shorter sentences, almost panting, and with much more cynicism in his reflections. Ivan's is more traditional, composed, thoughtful. Both men cannot without each other, but they could not be more different. Ivan is trying to extract himself from his older brother's fatherly attitude, while Peter feels responsible for Ivan now that they are orphaned. They become mirrored in the story. Peter can reproach Ivan that Margaret might take advantage of his youthful innocence, while not realising that Ivan can think the same of Peter's relationship with Naomi. 

Rooney is a wonderful writer. She knows how to give her characters their profile and voice, she creates an intricate web of emotions, conflicts and situational tension, in a very balanced and orchestrated way. 

Despite all the stylistic and writing capabilities of Rooney, I kept wondering why I was reading this? Why would I care about these two individuals? Why is this relevant in any way? It's not a comment on human nature, or society, or history, or politics, or any wider topic that might make it great. Or anything with a strong statement that may make it Art with a capital "a". Rooney remains within the confines of easy prose. It's entertaining and a literary version of a romance novel.