Intermezzo

Books about dysfunctional families are my jam and wow, the dysfunction goes deep here. The two brothers at the heart of the novel are utterly real as they grieve their father and ineptly navigate their rivalrous relationship and extremely messy love lives. Nobody does interiority or natural dialogue like Rooney. You become utterly immersed in the world she's created and the emotional rollercoasters the brothers ride. There is so much keen insight into the human condition here, and at the end, you are left feeling tender and hopeful about our world and the people in it.

'Intermezzo' explores grief as a complex phenomenon that can mould our personalities in unpredictable ways. Rooney doesn't view grief as a linear process or an emotion that openly announces its presence. Instead, she perceives loss as a creeping threat -- something people have to remain wary of as they go on with the business of living. I admire the author's ability to depict this theme in realistic hues.