Intermezzo

Sally Rooney captures conversations the way a frog catches flies; quickly and leaving a sticky residue. Her novel shares intensely interwoven conversations between five people; brothers Ivan and Peter Koubek, Naomi, Sylvia, and Margaret. (interesting that last names for the female characters rarely appear) There is a sixth entity that will become very prominent throughout the novel. Look for that to pop up soon!
I found a whirlwind of words flowing one to another as the group of five share stories and moments that are at times profound and very mundane. It was a challenge to track the voices given that Rooney has a rapid-fire approach to firing off back and forth chatter. (due in part to her Irish roots for lyrical speech?) The challenge was well worth my effort once I was able to establish the nuances of the voices of Peter, Ivan, Naomi, Sylvia, and Margaret.
The novel dances with the meaning of the routine, how relationships form and the at times playful and destructive choices made by the quintet. One such dance is shared when Ivan remarks “But a person’s outward appearance does not define the boundaries of their internal feelings . . .” Peter and Ivan struggle with self awareness, self esteem, imposter syndrome and a longing for someone who has gone away. Naomi, Sylvia, and Margaret are complex women. They live and love in and around the brothers and each woman makes their piece with themselves and the neediness of Peter and Ivan.
This work reveals our habits of second guessing ourselves and embracing and denying virtue. A chess match is played by the players in this novel. The intermezzo of the title may be light and pleasing however the darkness does arrive. The dog within the tale knows more than it lets on.
I highly recommend reading this novel.