Beautiful World, Where Are You Sally Rooney, by Allen& Unwin
Even though Beautiful World, Where Are You is only her third novel, Irish writer Sally Rooney is already a global sensation dubbed a “great millennial novelist” at just 30 years old. She was noticed in literary circles following the release of her debut – Conversations with
Friends – but it was Normal People which really raised her profile. The engrossing coming-of-age romance was adapted into a critically acclaimed 12-part TV series that was nominated for an Emmy Award. An exciting new voice had arrived in the world’s living rooms.
While her writing is undeniably literary, its power is in its depiction of the inner workings of relationships and the meandering emotional messiness that lies therein. In this third novel Sally pushes her narrative one step further to present the love lives of her four central characters against the background of Brexit, climate change and the march of Donald Trump.
Sally writes largely about what she knows and then digs deep. Nothing is forced, it’s as if we are entering not only the world she presents but able to observe and experience the thoughts of her characters. We are not quite inside those thoughts, but at a pertinent distance which gives an interesting space for readers to engage their own critical thinking.
Eileen and Alice have been friends since university. They are now in their late 20s and continue their connection through long ponderous emails mixing the day-today with philosophical musing and didactic advice.
Alice is now a famous novelist but unable to cope with the attention it brings. Following a nervous breakdown which resulted in a stint in hospital, she has run away alone to a rectory in a quiet seaside town on Ireland’s west coast to recuperate. There she meets Felix, who works in a shipping warehouse. Their first date is a fizzer but nevertheless she finds herself inviting him to come to Rome with her. Meanwhile, back in Dublin Eileen is a junior assistant at a literary magazine and rather bored at work. Her friendship with a man she had a teenage crush on is getting complicated. What evolves is a brilliant examination of romantic anxiety, resilience and decay set against the big questions about the world we all find ourselves in.