Vithanage Erandi Kawshalya Madhushani Jade Times Staff
V.E.K. Madhushani is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Culture.
A Bold Shift from Rooney's Usual Style with Male Protagonists
Sally Rooney's highly anticipated fourth novel, Intermezzo, has received widespread praise from critics, who have described it as "mature" and "profound." The Irish author's latest departure from her usual female protagonist focuses on the emotional lives of two grieving brothers, Peter and Ivan, navigating complex relationships.
A New Direction for Rooney
In Intermezzo, Rooney explores new territory by centering her narrative on male protagonists, diverging from the strong female voices that defined her earlier works. Peter, a barrister, and Ivan, a young competitive chess player, grapple with grief and strained familial bonds, while also navigating age gap relationships. Anna Bonet from The i called the novel a "culmination of everything [Rooney] has done before," and praised its maturity, despite acknowledging it as "not flawless."
Criticism of Female Character Portrayals
While Intermezzo has been lauded for its depth, some critics found weaknesses in the depiction of the female characters. Shahidha Bari from The Financial Times noted that characters like Sylvia and Naomi felt underdeveloped compared to Rooney's previous heroines. Naomi, Peter's love interest, was seen as a "Gen Z variation of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl," lacking the depth of other central figures.
Tender Exploration of Grief and Relationships
Despite some criticism, Intermezzo has been hailed as Rooney's richest treatment of grief and romantic entanglements. Anthony Cummins of The Guardian described it as a "truly wonderful" novel that is both tender and funny, exploring the complexities of love and loss.
A Confident Step Forward
Rooney's signature themes of intimacy, communication, and desire remain central to Intermezzo, but critics have noted a more confident and evolved style. The Independent’s Jo Hamya awarded the novel five stars, saying Rooney "at last, discovers the full potential of her prowess," while The New Statesman's Lola Seaton praised Rooney’s ambition to push beyond her previous works.
Rooney's Reluctance to Conform
In interviews, Rooney has downplayed concerns over her work being too similar. "I don't care about my career," she told The New York Times. Her focus remains on crafting the perfect version of each book rather than following expectations or comparisons to her earlier successes.
While Intermezzo may not universally surpass the acclaim of Normal People or Conversations with Friends, it has undeniably marked a significant step in Rooney’s literary evolution, with many critics calling it her most confident and ambitious work yet.
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