(Image courtesy of Faber. “Intermezzo is an in-depth character study and examines non-traditional relationships.”)

Rick Dalton
Connector Staff

Sally Rooney’s 2024 novel “Intermezzo” is her latest literary drama. Rooney excels at writing troubled characters that struggle with complex relationships. This story follows Peter and Ivan Koubek, brothers that recently buried their father. The two men are wildly different, apart from their grief and unconventional romantic entanglements. Peter and Ivan go on separate, occasionally intersecting journeys as they navigate relationships with their father, their romantic partners, and each other.

“Intermezzo” begins with Peter, a 32-year-old lawyer, two weeks after his father’s funeral. He reflects how Ivan, 22, looked at the funeral, highlighting his braces and shabby suit. Peter visits Naomi, a 23-year-old college student that is squatting in an apartment with friends. They are in a noncommitted relationship, but Peter frequently helps Naomi monetarily. With Peter out of touch since his dad died, Naomi casually reveals how she sold some scandalous photos of herself when she needed cash. Naomi has yet to meet Ivan, but she asks how he is handling it. Peter is unaware, as they haven’t seen each other since the funeral and rarely talk. Peter cruelly describes his brother as “a complete oddball… kind of autistic.”

When Naomi asks about the funeral, Peter admits that his ex-girlfriend Sylvia was there. Naomi is annoyed that she was not invited, let alone notified, but Peter points out their unclear relationship status. After some playful banter and a romantic encounter, he leaves to visit Sylvia, a 32-year-old literature professor. They dated for years and were very serious, but a tragic accident left Sylvia with chronic pain and made her unable to have a physical relationship. She broke up with him, but they remained best friends. Peter is still in love with Sylvia and often sleeps at her place. Peter’s love life is certainly complex. 

Peter’s saga involves him bouncing between both women, basically having half a relationship with each of them. Peter’s perspective is shared through a stream of consciousness as his mental health deteriorates. Early in the novel, “Thought rises calmly to the surface of his mind: I wish I was dead. Same as everyone sometimes surely. Idea occurs, that is.” Peter frequently numbs himself with drugs and alcohol, struggling with grief as he endures Naomi’s chaotic lifestyle and pines for Sylvia. In contrast, as Peter spirals, Ivan grows.

Ivan’s story begins in the small town of Leitrim. Ivan is a recent college graduate and a chess prodigy, although his rating has been falling since his dad became ill several years earlier. He is traveling for an exhibition against Leitrim’s chess club, where he wins ten matches simultaneously. At the event, Ivan meets Margaret, the 36-year-old director of Leitrim’s community center. She is hosting the event, in addition to driving Ivan while he is in town. Ivan impresses Margaret at the exhibition. She thinks, “Funny. She liked him actually, the young man with the braces… Slightly awkward of course: those high-IQ people usually are.” Margaret meets Ivan for a celebratory drink with the chess club after the event, where they enjoy some friendly conversation. Margaret drives Ivan to his rental house afterwards, and Ivan uncharacteristically invites Margaret in. Margaret uncharacteristically accepts. 

Ivan and Margaret get to know each other. They reveal their ages, and Ivan mentions his father died a few weeks earlier. Margaret can sympathize, having also lost her father a couple years earlier. She also reveals that she is married but separated from her husband. They are clearly very attracted to each other, and Ivan asks Margaret to kiss. Her mind races, thinking about the age difference, how unprofessional it is and that she is legally married. However, she lets Ivan seduce her, reasoning, “doesn’t it feel good to simply be in the arms of this person?” Thus begins an unexpected affair.

Ivan’s chapters provide both his and Margaret’s perspective. Ivan reads very differently from his brother. His interior monologue is highly logical, like life is a game of chess. He freely talks about his emotions with Margaret, and he is in a much better place mentally than Peter. Despite the age difference, Ivan sees no reason he cannot be happy with Margaret, content to live in the moment and see where things go. Margaret very much enjoys Ivan’s company, but frequently worries about what her friends, her mother, and especially her estranged husband would think of her new relationship. While they keep things quiet, Ivan and Margaret’s open communication provides a stark contrast to Peter’s internal struggle and bizarre love triangle.

Peter and Ivan only share a few scenes together. They feel like their father would have wanted them to try to be closer, but years of baggage and their age difference get in the way. Peter has a hard time seeing Ivan as a mature and thoughtful young man, rather than the angry and misogynistic youth he once was. Ivan is resentful when Peter reacts negatively to Margaret’s age, especially after he learns about Naomi. The brothers have a lot to work out and seeing how differently they respond to life’s challenges is fascinating. 

“Intermezzo” is an expertly crafted novel. It is an in-depth character study, an examination of non-traditional relationships and the pitfalls that come from poor communication. It is highly recommended for fans of contemporary drama. 

 Grade: A-