Lilyya ♡'s Reviews > Intermezzo

4.5 stars

“I think, as sad as it is to say, I think people aren’t always very nice to the people they love.”

perhaps it was bold of me to initiate my exploration of Rooney’s works with her latest release. however, my immersion into her penmanship was as spontaneous as I wanted it to be. I did not build any preconceptions about the book before devouring it, which resulted in a poignant surprise

to phrase it simply, the novel is character-driven, with the pièce de résistance cemented on the relationship between the Koubek brothers—or rather, the lack of relationship—succeeding to their father’s death. the narrative ventures into the unorthodox and complex aspects of the brothers’ love lives. the younger, chess-prodigy brother, Ivan, finds himself in a relationship with an older woman, Margaret. meanwhile, the older brother, Peter, juggles with the lingering feelings for his first love, Sylvia, while navigating his current relationship with Noami.

the tone is established in the early chapters, where Peter is caricatured as the malevolent figure of the story, while Ivan is depicted as the misunderstood protagonist. however, as I delved deeper into the book, I found that the storyline layers Peter’s character with far more nuance and substance than merely portraying him as a 'privileged, successful white man who manipulates women’s emotions.' Initially, I found his chapters disconcerting; the prose seems deliberately crafted, I assume, reflecting his struggles with borderline alcoholism. Ivan’s character’s development arc has some comforting constancy, he isn’t showcased under a new light but he certainly matured under the influence of Margaret.

i found that Rooney handled the family drama subgenere with dexterity. she distilled with a brilliant approche how a sibling relationship might be tarnished by an inability to recognize one another’s feelings, life experiences, and societal roles. it illustrates how unexpressed or suppressed emotions can undermine a bond, while confrontation emerges as a crucial remedy. this is a raw tale about grief, love, hatred, & pardon—ultimately, being human.

—————
here we gooo..