Beautiful World, Where Are You

Following the massive success of Normal People and Conversations with Friends, Sally Rooney’s third novel was hugely anticipated.

The story centres on Alice and Eileen, Simon and Felix and their relationships whilst they live around Dublin. The novel starts with the reader knowing nothing, and their connection to one another can be understood only through the dialogue and expressions throughout. I found I was interested in the relationships between the four but never “liked” any of them. This of course is Rooney’s style; “ordinary” people going about their daily lives. The prose is beautifully written and flows in her classic style, with minimal punctuation and the noticeable lack of speech marks.

Long emails are scattered throughout the book as Alice and Eileen discuss philosophical issues: societal collapse, personal goodness, beauty, fame, morality and love. I did enjoy it, but can see why it has divided readers and just like marmite, some have loved it and some have hated it.