A review by lex_r
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney

reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

I had high expectations for this novel, which should have been checked and adjusted entering this read. Although Rooney's discourse in this novel feels current with its emphasis on climate anxiety and political unrest the semi-epistolary style and language use make it seemed forced and performative. The book is formatted so every other chapter is a transcript of an email between Alice and Eileen, and more often then not I found myself uninterested in the email correspondences. To me they read as lengthy monolithic Wikipedia articles and exuded a sense of impersonality. The emails were lacking personality and I had a difficult time telling the difference between Eileen and Alice in these chapters. Although I do give credit for the narration style it is unique and creative! Overall, I don't think this book was intended for my demographic, I am sure other have found this devour-able but I spent almost every minute hoping it would end or get better. Perhaps I will re-visit closer to my late/mid twenties.  
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