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A review by potatq
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
5.0
You do not read Sally Rooney for the plot.. because there is none. You read Sally Rooney to think and to FEEL, to question your existence and the world, but then to ultimately hope for the better. This is what the experience with “Beautiful World, Where are You” is like. Similar to all of Sally Rooney’s books, this explores the complexities of human relationships - both with external relationships and one’s relationship with themselves, and how one can affect the other.
This is the first book I have physically annotated and highligted since this book certainly succeeds in engaging me, as it feels that it includes the reader in the musings and ruminations of the main characters. I didn’t feel like an outsider simply reading their story, I felt like I was in the same world as them because I am; because they are ordinarily human like me, living and struggling in the same complicated world as me, trying (and sometimes failing) to find the point/meaning/beauty of it but still believing and hoping that there is. I felt compelled to share my thoughts as well in the edges of the pages almost as if I was part of the exchange, which I never really felt to do before (at least not with my physical books but I do this often with ebooks).
What I enjoyed the most is the distinct voices of Alice and Eileen. They share similar enough beliefs and values that make their close friendship endearing (+ believable), but ultimately remain different in who they are as individuals. They differ in many aspects including their careers and successes, their choices in life, and a lot of their perceptions and opinions differ despite sharing the same general ideology. And yet, their friendship remains as it is because they freely exchanged ideas and opinions without judgement or ever fearing to disagree with one another. Their choices in life (esp where they are individually by the ending) are vastly different but successfully highlights how both paths are valid and the same. No path/life being better than the other because they are both just continuing on with their lives, as we all do.
With the ending, I found myself hopeful for them and wishing them the best in the next chapter of their lives. Even if I am no longer able to be a part of it. They felt like real people to me, as if I was included in their friendship. (I get this is a parasocial relationship but I don’t think I have felt that bond with most fictional characters which makes this book special)
Another thing I like about Sally Rooney’s books is how realistically and ordinarily human all of her characters are. They are just normal everday people (even if in different financial standings) plagued with self-doubt, dealing with different struggles, each with their own real flaws, and aren’t always the best people. This makes it easy to find pieces of ourselves in all of her characters (Pero putangina mo paden Felix even if he did grew to be a bit tolerable). Even with how she writes her sex scenes, in which she just does so very bluntly. There is no need for added glamour to make it sound more intimitate or beautiful because those acts remain to be so even without it (And also highlights the fact that sometimes sex is just sex. It is what it is, a human act). The way she writes the core relationships need no embellishments or romanticization because she makes sure to capture all of the turmoils that come with love and friendships, because the vulgarity and ugliness that sometimes comes with human relationships doesn’t make it any less appealing. We still want to be surrounded by people (and things) we love and whom love us because maybe that’s the point of life, because we are simply human.
While I certainly understand the criticsms and dislike for Sally Rooney’s writing, I find myself in awe of her writing and narration in all of her books. By finishing this book, I have now read all of her works so far and I hope to read more. Normal People remains to be my favorite Sally Rooney but needless to say, this is certainly another favorite read of this year.
P.S. Sally Rooney may not be for everyone, but I am her whore.
This is the first book I have physically annotated and highligted since this book certainly succeeds in engaging me, as it feels that it includes the reader in the musings and ruminations of the main characters. I didn’t feel like an outsider simply reading their story, I felt like I was in the same world as them because I am; because they are ordinarily human like me, living and struggling in the same complicated world as me, trying (and sometimes failing) to find the point/meaning/beauty of it but still believing and hoping that there is. I felt compelled to share my thoughts as well in the edges of the pages almost as if I was part of the exchange, which I never really felt to do before (at least not with my physical books but I do this often with ebooks).
What I enjoyed the most is the distinct voices of Alice and Eileen. They share similar enough beliefs and values that make their close friendship endearing (+ believable), but ultimately remain different in who they are as individuals. They differ in many aspects including their careers and successes, their choices in life, and a lot of their perceptions and opinions differ despite sharing the same general ideology. And yet, their friendship remains as it is because they freely exchanged ideas and opinions without judgement or ever fearing to disagree with one another. Their choices in life (esp where they are individually by the ending) are vastly different but successfully highlights how both paths are valid and the same. No path/life being better than the other because they are both just continuing on with their lives, as we all do.
With the ending, I found myself hopeful for them and wishing them the best in the next chapter of their lives. Even if I am no longer able to be a part of it. They felt like real people to me, as if I was included in their friendship. (I get this is a parasocial relationship but I don’t think I have felt that bond with most fictional characters which makes this book special)
Another thing I like about Sally Rooney’s books is how realistically and ordinarily human all of her characters are. They are just normal everday people (even if in different financial standings) plagued with self-doubt, dealing with different struggles, each with their own real flaws, and aren’t always the best people. This makes it easy to find pieces of ourselves in all of her characters (Pero putangina mo paden Felix even if he did grew to be a bit tolerable). Even with how she writes her sex scenes, in which she just does so very bluntly. There is no need for added glamour to make it sound more intimitate or beautiful because those acts remain to be so even without it (And also highlights the fact that sometimes sex is just sex. It is what it is, a human act). The way she writes the core relationships need no embellishments or romanticization because she makes sure to capture all of the turmoils that come with love and friendships, because the vulgarity and ugliness that sometimes comes with human relationships doesn’t make it any less appealing. We still want to be surrounded by people (and things) we love and whom love us because maybe that’s the point of life, because we are simply human.
While I certainly understand the criticsms and dislike for Sally Rooney’s writing, I find myself in awe of her writing and narration in all of her books. By finishing this book, I have now read all of her works so far and I hope to read more. Normal People remains to be my favorite Sally Rooney but needless to say, this is certainly another favorite read of this year.
P.S. Sally Rooney may not be for everyone, but I am her whore.