INTERMEZZO by Sally Rooney

Two brothers, a decade apart in age, are both mourning the recent death of their father for different reasons.  Ivan, the younger brother, is a 23-year-old chess wizard with a degree in theoretical physics and questionable social skills.  Peter is a lawyer in his early thirties with a substance abuse problem who fights for the welfare of the underdog, including equal rights for women in the workplace. The age difference between these two is nothing compared to the contrast in personalities.  Peter views Ivan as a child, and Ivan views Peter as arrogant and condescending.  Now, what makes this novel hum, besides the sibling friction, is their lusty romantic relationships.  Peter’s longtime girlfriend, Sylvia, has been relegated to friend status, due to a severe accident that has rendered her unable to be a complete sexual partner.  To fill the gap, Peter has become involved with a woman his brother’s age, Naomi, who has no job, no money, and no place to live.  The one flaw in this book for me is that I never could really understand Peter’s affection for her.  Ivan, on the other hand, falls in love with a delightful woman Peter’s age named Margaret who is still married to her absent alcoholic husband.  In other words, both men have girlfriends who are not traditionally age-appropriate.  I guess you’re either a Sally Rooney fan or you’re not, and I am solidly in the fan camp.  I adored everything about this novel—the characters, the plot, the writing, and especially the inner workings of the characters’ minds.  Please, may I have another?