Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Intermezzo: A Novel

Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Intermezzo: A Novel by Sally Rooney

499 reviews

blueblaine's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I quite enjoyed this as my first Sally Rooney read.

Right of the bat I was intrigued by the writing craft of the first chapter and really liked meeting the characters. Some of the character angst was a bit strange to me for a reason i can't quite name right now, like the intensity of Peter's hang ups about dating Naomi. I definitely felt there were moments when an unseen foreign spectre of morality was hovering and animating certain conflicts. But I still enjoyed myself for the most part!

Third act kinda fell short compared to the first two, and it was a little saccharine how things turn out but I still felt pretty satisfied as if I'd just finished a season of a television show. Ms.Rooney will see me again.

Content Warnings

loopread's review against another edition

4.0

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This is embarrassing to admit but before this, I had been actively avoiding any and ALL of Sally Rooney’s works because of her well-known no use of quotation marks + hit or miss writing style and I feel really stupid for that now.

I thought it was absolutely horrendous in Peter’s POV. Genuinely, I was shocked and thought the rest of the book would be that way. In the span of only 16 or so pages, I debated on sending it through the sky or just giving it away. When I got to Ivan’s POV, however, things slowly began to make more sense.

Flawed and realistic characters in a realistic setting, and writing that feels unique and immersive!

Content Warnings

katiewhocanread's review against another edition

3.5

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

My first Sally Rooney, aside from the first few pages of Conversations With Friends which was a swift DNF. I've never really felt the urge to read her books - too focused on couples, cheating, or Being Sally Rooney for my liking - but this one, whilst also having a heavy focus on couples and cheating*, also has additional themes of family and grief. I identified with the younger brother, who although he is explicitly not diagnosed autistic - he definitely is! The older brother was an arse. Sometimes sympathetic, often self-pitying, generally an arse.

I'm not a Rooney convert, think the book could have done with a bit of a trim, but she can write, I'll give her that. Had some interesting things to say about being human. Bit navel-gazey, but a decent writer.

*Is it cheating if they're agreed not to be monogamous? The book does explore other, complicated, relationship dynamics and I did appreciate the nuanced look at the complexities in this situation. Still not for me but at least it was thoughtful and original.

Content Warnings

_princess_pine's review against another edition

4.25

challenging emotional reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I can see why Rooney’s writing can be offputting for readers. And that’s not to say it should be different because she achieves a tone which manages physical and emotional realities. Otherwise when characters bump up against pain, unknowing in the violence of impending impact, keeping it unconfined would be utterly overwhelming. As a reader, I’m glad the intensity is dampened as it makes it easier to look at and think about meaningfully.

Content Warnings

maddybac's review against another edition

4.0

emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

leonie_wigs's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

hwhafner's review against another edition

4.25

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

sally rooney has a gift of writing the most detailed accounts of a characters inner thoughts and feelings, especially throughout their relationships with others, and intermezzo places this gift on full display. she is so skilled at creating rich characters, they are deeply flawed, and i really disliked them at times, but at the same time you find yourself rooting for them. her books are so human. intermezzo was a great read about the complexities of relationships of all kinds. if you’re interested in a character-driven story, i recommend this one

Content Warnings

melodyseestrees's review against another edition

2.0

emotional slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Sally Rooney just must not be the author for me as this is the second book I've tried and it bored me to tears.
I do not see the beauty other readers saw in this story, I just got the frustration and boredom. This did not feel like a story that should be over 16 hours long.
The audiobook narrator did a good job with the material, I just didn't enjoy the material.

Content Warnings