Podcast Summary: The Book Review - "Sally Rooney's 'Intermezzo': Our Book Club Conversation"

Episode: Sally Rooney's "Intermezzo": Our Book Club Conversation
Release Date: November 1, 2024
Host: Gilbert Cruz
Panelists: MJ Franklin, Joumana Khatib, Sadie Stein, Dave Kim
Podcast: The Book Review by The New York Times

Introduction

In this episode of The Book Review podcast, host Gilbert Cruz welcomes listeners to a monthly Book Club conversation centered around Sally Rooney's highly anticipated novel, "Intermezzo." The discussion is led by MJ Franklin, joined by regular panelists Joumana Khatib, Sadie Stein, and newcomer Dave Kim. The panel delves into the book's themes, character development, and overall reception, incorporating insights from reader comments to enrich the conversation.

Book Synopsis

Joumana Khatib provides a succinct overview of Intermezzo:
“This novel follows two brothers, Peter and Ivan Kubeck, who are grappling with the recent death of their father. Peter, a 30-something lawyer in Dublin, navigates a complex love triangle involving Naomi, a university student, and Sylvia, his first great love. Ivan, a 22-year-old chess prodigy, embarks on a relationship with Margaret, a 36-year-old woman. The narrative explores their struggles with grief, identity, and the sustainability of their romantic relationships.” [04:33]

General Reactions

The panel shares mixed feelings about Intermezzo, highlighting both admiration and criticism.

• Sadie Stein expresses initial disappointment, particularly regarding character development:
  “I started out feeling almost personally angry because I’ve been a big fan of her work, but as I immersed myself, I found a certain warmth and generosity in the storytelling that I didn’t expect.” [06:43]

• Dave Kim offers a more positive take, appreciating the emotional depth despite initial reservations:
  “I didn’t think I would like it based on the description, but I found myself emotionally carried and intellectually stimulated.” [08:20]

• Joumana Khatib shares a complex view, struggling with certain aspects while acknowledging the novel’s strengths:
  “All the things I liked about her previous works felt absent here. The age gap and melodrama were challenging for me, and I had an emotional nerve block to feeling connected to some characters.” [09:30]

Character Analysis

The discussion delves into character portrayals and dynamics:

• Peter and Sylvia:
  MJ Franklin praises the depth of their relationship but notes Sadie Stein feels Sylvia comes across as "too angelic" and underdeveloped.
  Sadie: “Sylvia felt flat to me. Her character didn’t allow enough exploration beyond her disability and emotional distance.” [15:32]

• Ivan and Margaret:
  Joumana Khatib appreciates the initial romantic encounters but criticizes the lack of depth in Margaret’s character:
  “The first sexual encounter was beautifully handled, but Margaret doesn’t receive a proper point of view, making her feel flimsy.” [11:43]

• Naomi:
  The relationship dynamics involving Naomi are seen as shallow compared to previous Rooney novels.
  MJ Franklin highlights the contrast with earlier works, noting a lack of spark:
  “The relationships aren’t as innately enmeshed as in her previous books. The characters are pretty isolated.” [21:21]

Themes and Motifs

The panel explores broader themes woven into the narrative:

• Grief and Loss:
  The brothers’ journey through mourning and identity is a central focus.
  Joumana Khatib remarks on how loss shapes each character’s identity:
  “Everybody has an identity forged by loss, responding to something being taken from them.” [27:02]

• Isolation and Stasis:
  The novel probes into the characters' isolation and their struggles to move forward.
  MJ Franklin observes:
  “The book feels like it’s playing with isolation and stasis, adding new colors to Rooney’s projects.” [27:02]

• Modern Relationships:
  Grace from New York comments on the nuanced portrayal of love and care:
  “Caring for someone, loving someone, and being good for someone are three different things. Intermezzo explores how they can hurt each other and themselves.” [34:28]

Style and Form

The narrative style in Intermezzo sparks considerable debate among the panelists:

• MJ Franklin critiques the consistency of Peter’s narration, likening it to a "Joycean stream of consciousness" but feeling it lacks fluidity:
  “Peter’s style never changes to reflect his mental state, which I wanted to feel more fluid.” [31:45]

• Dave Kim finds merit in the lyrical quality despite the clipped sentences:
  “Even in Peter's bits, there was quite a bit of poetry to that. It felt very lyrical.” [30:36]

• Sadie Stein appreciates Rooney’s experimental approach:
  “I give a lot of points for experimenting with the style, departing from the typical millennial epistolary forms.” [28:55]

Reader Comments

The panel incorporates feedback from listeners, showcasing a range of perspectives:

• Positive Feedback:
  “Danielle from Philadelphia adored Intermezzo, finding the simultaneous reading and listening experience special.” [11:43]

• Critical Feedback:
  “Karen from Columbus found the book confusing and couldn’t get past five pages, while Sally from Arizona was disappointed, citing a lack of realistic and intelligent plot development.” [11:43]

Spin-Off: Book Recommendations

Inspired by Rooney's label as the "first great millennial novelist," the panel recommends other books capturing millennial voices and experiences:

• Joumana Khatib suggests "Private Citizens" by Tony Tuladimuti, a satire of Silicon Valley.
• MJ Franklin mentions "The Idiot" by Elif Batuman and "Luster" by Raven Leilani as examples of millennial-themed narratives.
• Sadie Stein and Dave Kim discuss the challenges of defining a "millennial novel" and its relation to technological influences and generational experiences.
  Sadie: “The term has to do with technology and the specific moments when phones became part of everyday life.” [36:05]

Conclusion and Next Steps

As the discussion wraps up, MJ Franklin highlights how Intermezzo diverges from Rooney's previous works by focusing on different protagonists and exploring themes of isolation and loss. The panel acknowledges both the strengths and shortcomings of the novel, offering a nuanced perspective that reflects the complexity of modern literature.

Listeners are invited to join the ongoing conversation through the NYT’s online book club hub and are teased with the next month's book selection, "100 Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, encouraging continued engagement and participation.

Notable Quote: “Intermezzo is no different, but we also had some detractors. ... I think complicated is the general vibe in our discussion.” — MJ Franklin [13:13]

This comprehensive discussion offers valuable insights into Sally Rooney's Intermezzo, balancing critical analysis with personal reflections, making it a useful summary for those who haven't listened to the episode.