Fantastic review, Alicia! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and particularly the ableist perspective you unpack so well. I admittedly hadn’t thought about this aspect as deeply and now it’s given me a lot more to think about in terms of Peter’s relationship, and the larger message Sylvia’s character plays in the narrative. I do wonder though whether this is also Rooney’s way of critiquing ableism—through Peter’s character rather than through Sylvia herself—as something he so desperately hates about himself and becomes such a source of deep self-loathing. I’ve thought a lot about how Rooney also chose to write about brothers, and still wondering why exactly she made this choice and what it says about the women in this book and their relationships with Peter and Ivan. How different would this story be if it were told from Sylvia’s pov, for example? So much to think about!
I actually feel like she was critiquing Sylvia more than Peter! After they had non-penetrative sex, Peter was willing to just be with her (albeit spiraling out about it because it meant losing his younger girlfriend). It was Sylvia who insisted that she couldn't be in a relationship due to her disability, having taken the choice from Peter all along. It really upset me that Sylvia never challenged this and instead the conclusion was, basically that he should have another girlfriend to experience those needs with. I loved the poly, but not this presentation of it.
I got that sense too, but I'm also a bit reluctant to say it as I don't want to give Peter a gold star either. Sylvia's decisions throughout the book were quite unsettling to me as well, and I think it's very strong internalised ableism. Whilst every individual is on a different stage of their journey, I don't want to stomach it in books, especially not such mainstream ones.
Thank you for reading my review, Alexandra! I did think about Peter's responses to Sylvia as well, because he does push back on her narrative. I initially thought there could be some hope there. But ultimately... it wasn't enough to save the book for me.
Yes, I think it's quite interesting she wrote about brothers as well! It would have been a vastly different book from someone else's perspective.
Love this review! I was feeling 50/50 about reading this book. I loved Normal People, and I thought Conversations with Friends was good, but I didn’t really enjoy it (if that makes sense). Even though her characters are often reduced to “they should go to therapy, and problem solved,” I like the emotionally complex characters, the integration of the Irish mentality, and the way she weaves the impact of contemporary capitalism and class dynamics into her storylines. So, I’m saddened to hear that ableism plays such a significant role in the storyline of two characters in this book. I’m leaning more and more toward not reading it.
Thank you for reading my review! I felt very similar, Falke. I rather liked her first two books, even if they weren't my cup of tea, and I generally appreciate her writing. However, the ableism in Intermezzo spoiled the book for me, sadly.
Agree with you on all of this! Intermezzo was my first Sally Rooney and that was probably a bad choice, but I don’t know if her writing style is for me. I dnfed. As someone who deals with chronic pain I could already tell the ableism would be too much for me. Also just didn’t like anyone in the book, except maybe Margaret.
I did enjoy her first two books, especially Normal People, so perhaps you can try that if you want to give her writing another shot, but I’ve sadly not liked her later books as much! The ableism in Intermezzo was quite overwhelming—if I had known the extent, I’m not sure I would have read it. I did also like Margaret too.
I’ve always had such mixed feelings on Sally Rooney — I think this has convinced me that if I do get round to picking up Intermezzo I’m probably best holding off for now!
I love her style, but there’s something about the way she writes interpersonal relationships that just makes my skin crawl. I’m generally not a romance person at all, so for me they’re a bit too much from that perspective. Beautiful World Where Are You is probably my favourite — but it’s a 50/50 split between the parts I liked (I remember loving the emails and thinking they were so well written), and the things I didn’t
I understand that! She gets into characters’ heads to the point that we might feel a little bit uncomfortable. I didn’t fancy Beautiful World very much, but did like Normal People and Conversations With Friends enough.
Have you read Shuggie Bain? Completely different topics and styles, but I also got that incredibly intimate feeling.
Really enjoyed reading your perspective - it did enjoy reading Intermezzo but also had similar feelings to you about the relationship between Peter and Sylvia. What I did like is that it made me think about things which I wouldn’t have otherwise done so, and this in itself is a positive thing. I don’t often read books about brothers, and I enjoyed this too but I felt like I wanted more of Margaret as she was the most interesting character to me.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Intermezzo! I wanted to dig more into the relationship between the brothers too, and also wanted more of Margaret. Perhaps I'll read another book about brothers!
Thank you for this review Alicia. I haven’t read it yet, and now I’m honestly not sure I will. It’s so refreshing to read from a courageous reviewer who isn’t afraid to take on the issues at the heart of popular works, and the way you do it based solely on the text (without translating that to who the author is and want she believes/thinks) is amazing.
Thank you for sharing this review! I’m really glad you did. Our book clubs had mixed thoughts on Sylvia and Peter’s relationship and your review shares an important lens to view it through. I largely disliked reading the book because I wasn’t rooting for Peter, and although I appreciated his growth toward the end of the book, he still wasn’t a pleasant character to spend time with. I think Rooney is a gifted writer, but I wonder if you think the book would have been a better experience had it been read by sensitivity readers.
You have expressed exactly what troubled me about this novel, Alicia. I did enjoy Intermezzo, but those sections on disability=imperfect sex=tragedy felt all wrong. Shades of this in The Brutalist (which I disliked).
The portrayal here, and the equivalence as you point out, is just too troubling and even harmful. I really wish this aspect could have been written a different way.
Thanks Emma! I’m a bit nervous sharing this review as so many people love Intermezzo and Sally Rooney, so it means a lot that the first comment on this is a positive one. <3 Ooh I’ll have to check Trespasses out! Margaret was my favourite character.
Finally finished it this morning so had to come straight here for your review! :)
I agree with you on so many points and I’m almost disappointed because I really enjoyed her other books. This one was off for me for a few different reasons. Peter is annoying with his indecisiveness- I agree. And the ableism- lack of nuance?
I am intrigued by the male perspective like others have mentioned here and how the story would have been different from Margaret’s or Sylvia’s perspective.
I also am still thinking about the “is Ivan autistic?” question. I read the piece you linked and thought it was helpful. While I feel like the author sprinkled in little signs (including looking at the menu beforehand) that aren’t the “classic” stereotypical autistic traits, the internal dialogue, represented by the writing style, did not fit for me. (I am autistic and ADHD) — this is especially true in contrast to books that are written by autistic authors. To me, it felt like she was trying to write a non-stereotypical autistic character, but didn’t quite hit the mark.
Fantastic review, Alicia! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and particularly the ableist perspective you unpack so well. I admittedly hadn’t thought about this aspect as deeply and now it’s given me a lot more to think about in terms of Peter’s relationship, and the larger message Sylvia’s character plays in the narrative. I do wonder though whether this is also Rooney’s way of critiquing ableism—through Peter’s character rather than through Sylvia herself—as something he so desperately hates about himself and becomes such a source of deep self-loathing. I’ve thought a lot about how Rooney also chose to write about brothers, and still wondering why exactly she made this choice and what it says about the women in this book and their relationships with Peter and Ivan. How different would this story be if it were told from Sylvia’s pov, for example? So much to think about!
I actually feel like she was critiquing Sylvia more than Peter! After they had non-penetrative sex, Peter was willing to just be with her (albeit spiraling out about it because it meant losing his younger girlfriend). It was Sylvia who insisted that she couldn't be in a relationship due to her disability, having taken the choice from Peter all along. It really upset me that Sylvia never challenged this and instead the conclusion was, basically that he should have another girlfriend to experience those needs with. I loved the poly, but not this presentation of it.
Yes, such good points! You’re right. It was interesting to see how they each navigated this perceived tension and the stakes that were felt.
I got that sense too, but I'm also a bit reluctant to say it as I don't want to give Peter a gold star either. Sylvia's decisions throughout the book were quite unsettling to me as well, and I think it's very strong internalised ableism. Whilst every individual is on a different stage of their journey, I don't want to stomach it in books, especially not such mainstream ones.
Thank you for reading my review, Alexandra! I did think about Peter's responses to Sylvia as well, because he does push back on her narrative. I initially thought there could be some hope there. But ultimately... it wasn't enough to save the book for me.
Yes, I think it's quite interesting she wrote about brothers as well! It would have been a vastly different book from someone else's perspective.
Love this review! I was feeling 50/50 about reading this book. I loved Normal People, and I thought Conversations with Friends was good, but I didn’t really enjoy it (if that makes sense). Even though her characters are often reduced to “they should go to therapy, and problem solved,” I like the emotionally complex characters, the integration of the Irish mentality, and the way she weaves the impact of contemporary capitalism and class dynamics into her storylines. So, I’m saddened to hear that ableism plays such a significant role in the storyline of two characters in this book. I’m leaning more and more toward not reading it.
Thank you for reading my review! I felt very similar, Falke. I rather liked her first two books, even if they weren't my cup of tea, and I generally appreciate her writing. However, the ableism in Intermezzo spoiled the book for me, sadly.
Agree with you on all of this! Intermezzo was my first Sally Rooney and that was probably a bad choice, but I don’t know if her writing style is for me. I dnfed. As someone who deals with chronic pain I could already tell the ableism would be too much for me. Also just didn’t like anyone in the book, except maybe Margaret.
I did enjoy her first two books, especially Normal People, so perhaps you can try that if you want to give her writing another shot, but I’ve sadly not liked her later books as much! The ableism in Intermezzo was quite overwhelming—if I had known the extent, I’m not sure I would have read it. I did also like Margaret too.
really liked hearing your thoughts on this! it's so interesting how everyone responds to books in different ways, it's what makes reading so fun
Thank you for reading my review! :)
I’ve always had such mixed feelings on Sally Rooney — I think this has convinced me that if I do get round to picking up Intermezzo I’m probably best holding off for now!
Ooh what did you think about her other books?
I love her style, but there’s something about the way she writes interpersonal relationships that just makes my skin crawl. I’m generally not a romance person at all, so for me they’re a bit too much from that perspective. Beautiful World Where Are You is probably my favourite — but it’s a 50/50 split between the parts I liked (I remember loving the emails and thinking they were so well written), and the things I didn’t
I understand that! She gets into characters’ heads to the point that we might feel a little bit uncomfortable. I didn’t fancy Beautiful World very much, but did like Normal People and Conversations With Friends enough.
Have you read Shuggie Bain? Completely different topics and styles, but I also got that incredibly intimate feeling.
Yes I loved Shuggie Bain! I did the audiobook version and it was phenomenal
So I find this review as soon as I bought the book…
Ooh! Do you think it'll change your thoughts on it when you read it?
Funnily enough I have a love-hate relationship with Sally Rooney. I will definitely go into this book with this review in mind!
Really enjoyed reading your perspective - it did enjoy reading Intermezzo but also had similar feelings to you about the relationship between Peter and Sylvia. What I did like is that it made me think about things which I wouldn’t have otherwise done so, and this in itself is a positive thing. I don’t often read books about brothers, and I enjoyed this too but I felt like I wanted more of Margaret as she was the most interesting character to me.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Intermezzo! I wanted to dig more into the relationship between the brothers too, and also wanted more of Margaret. Perhaps I'll read another book about brothers!
Let me know if you find a good one about brothers!
I will do!
I have a copy of the book with me that I bought after hearing its praises all around me. But reading your review, I feel like reading it.
Do let me know your thoughts when you read it!
Sure.
Thank you for this review Alicia. I haven’t read it yet, and now I’m honestly not sure I will. It’s so refreshing to read from a courageous reviewer who isn’t afraid to take on the issues at the heart of popular works, and the way you do it based solely on the text (without translating that to who the author is and want she believes/thinks) is amazing.
Thank you for reading my review Nadége! I tried really hard to focus on the book itself here. ❤️
Thank you for sharing this review! I’m really glad you did. Our book clubs had mixed thoughts on Sylvia and Peter’s relationship and your review shares an important lens to view it through. I largely disliked reading the book because I wasn’t rooting for Peter, and although I appreciated his growth toward the end of the book, he still wasn’t a pleasant character to spend time with. I think Rooney is a gifted writer, but I wonder if you think the book would have been a better experience had it been read by sensitivity readers.
Thank you for reading my review, Megan!
Oooh what were their thoughts in your book club?
Yes, I think sensitivity readers would have helped, though I'm not entirely sure how much.
You have expressed exactly what troubled me about this novel, Alicia. I did enjoy Intermezzo, but those sections on disability=imperfect sex=tragedy felt all wrong. Shades of this in The Brutalist (which I disliked).
The portrayal here, and the equivalence as you point out, is just too troubling and even harmful. I really wish this aspect could have been written a different way.
Really loved this review Alicia! I recently read Trespasses and the protagonist really reminded me of a younger Margaret. ❤️
Thanks Emma! I’m a bit nervous sharing this review as so many people love Intermezzo and Sally Rooney, so it means a lot that the first comment on this is a positive one. <3 Ooh I’ll have to check Trespasses out! Margaret was my favourite character.
Finally finished it this morning so had to come straight here for your review! :)
I agree with you on so many points and I’m almost disappointed because I really enjoyed her other books. This one was off for me for a few different reasons. Peter is annoying with his indecisiveness- I agree. And the ableism- lack of nuance?
I am intrigued by the male perspective like others have mentioned here and how the story would have been different from Margaret’s or Sylvia’s perspective.
I also am still thinking about the “is Ivan autistic?” question. I read the piece you linked and thought it was helpful. While I feel like the author sprinkled in little signs (including looking at the menu beforehand) that aren’t the “classic” stereotypical autistic traits, the internal dialogue, represented by the writing style, did not fit for me. (I am autistic and ADHD) — this is especially true in contrast to books that are written by autistic authors. To me, it felt like she was trying to write a non-stereotypical autistic character, but didn’t quite hit the mark.
Let me know what you think when you do!