Culture chat: ‘Intermezzo’ and the Sally Rooney phenomenon

Sally Rooney’s fourth novel, *Intermezzo*, marks a departure from the author’s earlier, more economical prose, offering a warmer and more earnest exploration of human connection. Centered on the complex relationship between two brothers in Dublin—a lawyer and a chess prodigy—the narrative delves into the visceral realities of grief, sibling dynamics, and the messy, often non-linear path to adulthood. While the novel maintains Rooney’s signature focus on tangible, everyday details, it trades the emotional distance of her previous work for a more vulnerable, character-driven approach. The tension between Rooney’s status as a generational voice and the traditional, often classical, structure of her writing underscores the work's depth. Ultimately, the book succeeds by grounding its intellectual and political underpinnings in deeply relatable, romantic, and human experiences, effectively transcending the intense publicity surrounding its release.