ONE of the interesting features of the novels of Sally Rooney is that, although they are set very much in the modern world of mobile phones, texting, drugs, and irregular sexual relationships, the possibility of a religious view of the world lies just below the narrative, and very occasionally surfaces.

Intermezzo concerns two brothers: Peter, a successful barrister, and the much younger Ivan, who is withdrawn, but brilliant at chess. Their father, to whom they were both attached, has just died, and they are both grieving. When he was alive, his presence kept the love/hate relationship of the two boys submerged. Now he is dead, this emerges in vicious form.

Both brothers are caught up in relationships that have no obvious future. Peter lived happily with Sylvia for many years, but, when she had a terrible accident from which she suffered permanent pain, and sexual intercourse was no longer possible for her, she said that he was free to break the relationship off.

He has since fallen in love with a free spirit, Naomi, but can never forget Sylvia. Ivan, who has had no serious girlfriend before, finds himself in love with Margaret, a divorced woman many years older than him.

The novel is “stream of consciousness” with a difference, in that the thoughts going on in the minds of the characters come tumbling out at the same time as their consciousness takes in the surroundings. I found this effective. The overall theme in the novel is the growing painful self-knowledge gained by the main characters.

Towards the end, Ivan asks his brother whether he believes in God. Peter says that he is not sure: “I suppose I would say, I try to.” Ivan responds that it is the same with him, “That I try. Although it doesn’t always work, but I do my best.”

Perhaps the most telling passage, however, is after Peter has come near taking his own life, and he reflects on all the things that he has lost in his life and then the things that he has left: “ What has not yet been lost, what still at least for this moment remains. To do what little good he can with his life. To ask for nothing more, to bow his head pitifully grateful, God’s humble and grateful servant. Can he imagine anything less like himself? And yet here he is, defeated, relieved, forgiving everything, praying only to be forgiven.”

The Rt Revd Lord Harries of Pentregarth is a former Bishop of Oxford, and an Hon. Professor of Theology at King’s College, London.

Intermezzo
Sally Rooney
Faber & Faber £20
(978-0-571-36546-3)
Church Times Bookshop £18