Just finished this one this morning. It's my very first Rooney. The first half I was confused and frustrated and almost DNF'd it at least 4 times, and then . . . something clicked, and the second half was one of the most pleasurable reading experiences of this entire year, to the point that I almost went back and started again because sure I had missed something in the first half. And normally I'm a plot guy too, but in this I just didn't miss it at all. What a strange experience lol but overall I'm gonna have to say that I loved it!
Just finished this one! Beautiful World is one of my favorite books EVER, and while this one doesn't reach those heights for me, I still appreciate watching a master at work & seeing Rooney grow and mature as a writer & person with each of her novels.
I am in that older generation that misses something when I read Rooney's work. I understand what her characters feel, I just don't understand why, based on those feelings, they take the actions she has them take. I don't think she's terrible. Her writing style is one that I generally admire. I thought Normal People was good. I thought Conversations with Friends was bad. So I think I probably agree with your overall assessment, but I feel like I am missing something when I read her books. Maybe I am looking for too much. Ironically, I enjoy listening to Rooney talk about her ideas and her writing.
Same here! I really enjoy her writing but the characters and stories are mostly uninteresting and full of cliche teenager perspectives😂 Her books are all very readable so I suppose I will always read her works but I don’t think I would be a big fan of her as well.
I gave Normal People 5*, but haven't picked up another, yet. I'm 74 😏. I do agree most of my peers hated Normal People because they couldn't relate. I like her writing and don't care much about plot, so Intermezzo sounds like my cuppa.
Gen X is in the sweet spot because we can definitely understand the younger characters as we have been young ourselves, but we can also relate to the ageing characters. Rooney does both well I reckon.
Lovely review. I’d seen this book all over tiktok, no idea what it was about whatsoever. Stumbled upon this video and watched it to satisfy my curiosity. You made me want to pick it up. You gained a new sub! Would love to hear your take on The Road by Cormac McCarthy, and The Way of Kings (all of Stormlight Archive really) by Brandon Sanderson. Cheers!
Hoping to read this one within the next month - love Sally Rooney! Roro, I know this is completely unrelated so apologies but I see that you're a budding Joe Abercrombie enthusiast and I have to tell you that I remarkably bumped into him on the street yesterday and he was absolutely lovely!!
the way each character had their own narrative style kept me absolutely hooked on this one - it reminded me of The Bee Sting a lot particularly through that use of stream of consciousness writing to reflect a character’s mental state, I love that so much when it’s done well. I would’ve really enjoyed a Naomi and Christine POV. just one little cutaway for Christine where the dog eats the sofa cushions or something, or to show how she’s really feeling about the death of her ex husband. to leave them both out of the story in this way leaves you with the impression that they’re just manipulative figures in the lives of these two brothers, without giving them the dimension I think they each deserve. I’d be interested to know if they were left out for a reason, or if they were in there initially and edited out later. thank you for a great review!
Thanks for this review because it made me realize that Jo Hamya is my Sally Rooney - Hamya writes 3.5⭐️ books about generational conflict (boomer v millennial) in a way i love to read. And Rooney writes 3⭐️ books about ppl in their 20s v ppl in their 30s in a way i don’t find particularly intriguing but the zeitgeist compels me to see where she’s coming from. This comment is a suggestion to read Jo Hamya lol.
I'm twice your age and enjoy her writing so don't know if age is that important. Currently half way through Intermezzo and like it so far. Cross between Ulysses and Lady Chattery ;-), not really but there's elements. Liked the honesty of your review.
Hello Roro, I’m glad I found your review of SR bc it confirms for me that I don’t have to read her. I am of what you call “the older generation” tho I’m not sure that really matters. What does matter is what seems to me to be SR’s subjects-people living day to day in urban environments. This is just way too close to my own life so sounds, frankly, rather boring. Books that attract me tell stories that are way outside & beyond my own life experience. Some examples that I’ve read recently & really loved are Train Dreams by Denis Johnson, Lone Women by Victor LaValle, & Johnathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, even though I’m not really a fantasy fan. Anyway, thanks for your reviews!! 😊
Yes, me again. I imagine you wish I'd just get lost. But I'll never stop watching. You're excellent, and I want you to be superb. So, toss this aside, but I'll say it anyway. Could you drop the f-word? And a word like "sh*tload"? This coarseness ill becomes you. No one could doubt that you're a regular guy without a snobbish bone in your body. But you owe nothing -- nothing -- to the groundlings You're too well read to go low. Okay, I'm the snob. No question. Dismiss me as such. But you're not snobbish at all. And at the same time, you veer closer and closer to eloquence. Crudity shouldn't be allowed to get in your way.
@@steveurick3044 great question! Unfortunately, I don’t have time to answer currently. Please check out my best of the year videos to see what I consider five star reads :)
Just finished this one this morning. It's my very first Rooney. The first half I was confused and frustrated and almost DNF'd it at least 4 times, and then . . . something clicked, and the second half was one of the most pleasurable reading experiences of this entire year, to the point that I almost went back and started again because sure I had missed something in the first half. And normally I'm a plot guy too, but in this I just didn't miss it at all. What a strange experience lol but overall I'm gonna have to say that I loved it!
Just finished this one! Beautiful World is one of my favorite books EVER, and while this one doesn't reach those heights for me, I still appreciate watching a master at work & seeing Rooney grow and mature as a writer & person with each of her novels.
I am in that older generation that misses something when I read Rooney's work. I understand what her characters feel, I just don't understand why, based on those feelings, they take the actions she has them take. I don't think she's terrible. Her writing style is one that I generally admire. I thought Normal People was good. I thought Conversations with Friends was bad. So I think I probably agree with your overall assessment, but I feel like I am missing something when I read her books. Maybe I am looking for too much. Ironically, I enjoy listening to Rooney talk about her ideas and her writing.
Same here! I really enjoy her writing but the characters and stories are mostly uninteresting and full of cliche teenager perspectives😂 Her books are all very readable so I suppose I will always read her works but I don’t think I would be a big fan of her as well.
❤HELLO!❤ your energy makes me happy!
I gave Normal People 5*, but haven't picked up another, yet. I'm 74 😏. I do agree most of my peers hated Normal People because they couldn't relate. I like her writing and don't care much about plot, so Intermezzo sounds like my cuppa.
I'm in my sixties and can't stand her books. And it's not because I haven't tried.
Gen X is in the sweet spot because we can definitely understand the younger characters as we have been young ourselves, but we can also relate to the ageing characters. Rooney does both well I reckon.
Thank you! I’ve read the road but not the way of kings. But I do enjoy Branson sandersons work.
Lovely review. I’d seen this book all over tiktok, no idea what it was about whatsoever. Stumbled upon this video and watched it to satisfy my curiosity. You made me want to pick it up. You gained a new sub!
Would love to hear your take on The Road by Cormac McCarthy, and The Way of Kings (all of Stormlight Archive really) by Brandon Sanderson. Cheers!
Hoping to read this one within the next month - love Sally Rooney! Roro, I know this is completely unrelated so apologies but I see that you're a budding Joe Abercrombie enthusiast and I have to tell you that I remarkably bumped into him on the street yesterday and he was absolutely lovely!!
@@angussinclair1344 what! That’s awesome. I knew he’d be a nice guy. Thanks for sharing :)
the way each character had their own narrative style kept me absolutely hooked on this one - it reminded me of The Bee Sting a lot particularly through that use of stream of consciousness writing to reflect a character’s mental state, I love that so much when it’s done well.
I would’ve really enjoyed a Naomi and Christine POV. just one little cutaway for Christine where the dog eats the sofa cushions or something, or to show how she’s really feeling about the death of her ex husband. to leave them both out of the story in this way leaves you with the impression that they’re just manipulative figures in the lives of these two brothers, without giving them the dimension I think they each deserve. I’d be interested to know if they were left out for a reason, or if they were in there initially and edited out later.
thank you for a great review!
@@ameliabarlowbooks miss your vids xx
@@rororeads ♥️ back soon!
Such an insightful review ✨
Super. This review has made me want to read it. I wouldn’t normally go anywhere near such a hyped book.
Thanks for this review because it made me realize that Jo Hamya is my Sally Rooney - Hamya writes 3.5⭐️ books about generational conflict (boomer v millennial) in a way i love to read. And Rooney writes 3⭐️ books about ppl in their 20s v ppl in their 30s in a way i don’t find particularly intriguing but the zeitgeist compels me to see where she’s coming from. This comment is a suggestion to read Jo Hamya lol.
@@yenasung Jo Hamya is going on the list. Thanks :)
I'm twice your age and enjoy her writing so don't know if age is that important. Currently half way through Intermezzo and like it so far. Cross between Ulysses and Lady Chattery ;-), not really but there's elements. Liked the honesty of your review.
Hello Roro, I’m glad I found your review of SR bc it confirms for me that I don’t have to read her. I am of what you call “the older generation” tho I’m not sure that really matters. What does matter is what seems to me to be SR’s subjects-people living day to day in urban environments. This is just way too close to my own life so sounds, frankly, rather boring. Books that attract me tell stories that are way outside & beyond my own life experience. Some examples that I’ve read recently & really loved are Train Dreams by Denis Johnson, Lone Women by Victor LaValle, & Johnathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, even though I’m not really a fantasy fan. Anyway, thanks for your reviews!! 😊
😂 that intro 😂 💚
Hmmmm - old white guy here (hopefully NOT a loser!) ... and I quite like Rooney!
Yea. No. I'm not into it. Pass go do not getc200 dollars.
Yes, me again. I imagine you wish I'd just get lost. But I'll never stop watching. You're excellent, and I want you to be superb. So, toss this aside, but I'll say it anyway. Could you drop the f-word? And a word like "sh*tload"? This coarseness ill becomes you. No one could doubt that you're a regular guy without a snobbish bone in your body. But you owe nothing -- nothing -- to the groundlings You're too well read to go low. Okay, I'm the snob. No question. Dismiss me as such. But you're not snobbish at all. And at the same time, you veer closer and closer to eloquence. Crudity shouldn't be allowed to get in your way.
hmm, I like Sally Rooney's stuff, but if she is 3.5 stars, what is 5 stars for you???
@@steveurick3044 great question! Unfortunately, I don’t have time to answer currently. Please check out my best of the year videos to see what I consider five star reads :)
@@rororeadsFair enough. But I’m not sure I have enough time to watch another video, either.
@@steveurick3044 understandable. Enjoy your weekend. Happy reading.