Beautiful World, Where Are You

This book is conflicting... I wouldn't say I quite recommend it, not even sure I liked it, but I was slightly moved in the end. The first three quarters of the book dragged on in a sad philosophical portrait of late 20s early 30s life sorta way. I kept waiting for something to actually happen, and then finally much of the conflict subtlety hinted at during the first part of the book came to surface. It was beautiful in a melancholy way, and even briefly satisfying. Then the book wrapped up with three short conclusion chapters, leaving me a little adrift. I wanted more, but was also relieved to be done...

Unsurprisingly, I really enjoyed this book. Sally Rooney is fast becoming one of my favourite writers.

The tone of the ending was a bit strange though, and the introduction of the pandemic very abrupt.

Throughout the book, the emails between Alice and Eileen often felt a little overwrought. The two of them had such a similar outlook on life that at times it felt like someone writing themselves letters back and forth, in the manner that a person might play chess against themselves.

Still, it was well worth a read and most of all I loved stepping back into Sally Rooney's writing. So full of detail yet simple at the same time.

It would be cruel to not love the book and mark it as a favourite.
After months of eager anticipation on Rooney's new work, I have found my anticipation not to be let down in any sense and her rise was nothing like foam, so easily shattered into pieces as the heat would die out eventually. Rather, I did a binge on this book as I was so indulged in the book that throughout the times when I was getting a break from it or having lessons in school during the day I couldn't even put it off my mind.
The novel, for sure, as it is Rooney's style to put everyday life and event into novels that turn out to be extraordinary, opposing their nature, being written and only revolved around normality. But this one, from which stands itself out of the other two, shows a predominant sense of maturity fully infused throughout the novel, from that of friendship and love to even a broader view about the peril the world is facing, and most importantly, as a key feature, we can get to know how Rooney felt when she was so young and successful just by writing two novels and rose herself to become an internationally well acclaimed novelist. This happens to be the only extraordinary bit of the novel, especially being portrayed by Alice, it did bring out the problems behind a seemingly successful life with a too-large-to-be-used amount of income, that in some sense it would be completely incomprehensible and detaching in its own way that separates herself from the normal people out there.
Another prominent element present in the novel, is again that difference between social classes. However, it was so different this time that it was not a substantial border being placed between the characters on their financial and social status-Alice was from working class background just like Felix. Through the book there are a lot of arguments, misunderstanding embedded and surrounded by the loving nature of their relationships. Sometimes, it is simply so frustrating that the characters cannot reach the common ground and keep putting themselves on the balance of contribution to sustain the friendship or courtship. Yet, it is love, and it is immeasurable. This do shine a light on the seemingly depressing or close-to-be-breaking-apart relationships and in the end, everything was not ugly but is indeed beautiful.
In this sense, the title might have proven to me, that in search of a perfect state or anywhere close to an utopia for actual beauty, which is rather improbable, perhaps it would be more advisable to simply go look after your loved ones, family members, give them your love and care, in a microscopic way of contributing to the world so that what meets us in the end is that beautifying nature of love, of any sorts of intimacy. Being mentioned in the book of those ideologies, political issues, plastics, consumerism, pollution, global warming... they are very spot on and yet, as individuals if we are to eradicate the problems, we can only try and change in that according portion which individuals are bound to contribute. Is it so selfish and unsympathetic as a human being to only look out for the close ones around us, instead of caring about the world as we are global citizens? This I fear not, as mentioned in the book, “Maybe we're just born to love and worry about the people we know, and to go on loving and worrying even when there are more important things we should be doing”. Finding emotional fulfillment in loving and being loved, in caring and being taken cared of, in living and to be lived for... No, it is never bad. “What if the meaning of life on earth is not eternal progress toward some unspecified goal—the engineering and production of more and more powerful technologies, the development of more and more complex and abstruse cultural forms? What if these things just rise and recede naturally, like tides, while the meaning of life remains the same always—just to live and be with other people?” As long as there is meaning to live for, who cares?
It would be cruel to not like the book and mark it as a favourite.
After months of eager anticipation on Rooney's new work, I have found my anticipation not to be let down in any sense and her rise was nothing like foam, so easily shattered into pieces as the heat would die out eventually. Rather, I did a binge on this book as I was so indulged in the book that throughout the times when I was getting a break from it or having lessons in school during the day I couldn't even put it off my mind.
The novel, for sure, as it is Rooney's style to put everyday life and event into novels that turn out to be extraordinary, opposing their nature, being written and only revolved around normality. But this one, from which stands itself out of the other two, shows a predominant sense of maturity fully infused throughout the novel, from that of friendship and love to even a broader view about the peril the world is facing, and most importantly, as a key feature, we can get to know how Rooney felt when she was so young and successful just by writing two novels and rose herself to become an internationally well acclaimed novelist. This happens to be the only extraordinary bit of the novel, especially being portrayed by Alice, it did bring out the problems behind a seemingly successful life with a too-large-to-be-used amount of income, that in some sense it would be completely incomprehensible and detaching in its own way that separates herself from the normal people out there.
Another prominent element present in the novel, is again that difference between social classes. However, it was so different this time that it was not a substantial border being placed between the characters on their financial and social status-Alice was from working class background just like Felix. Through the book there are a lot of arguments, misunderstanding embedded and surrounded by the loving nature of their relationships. Sometimes, it is simply so frustrating that the characters cannot reach the common ground and keep putting themselves on the balance of contribution to sustain the friendship or courtship. Yet, it is love, and it is immeasurable. This do shine a light on the seemingly depressing or close-to-be-breaking-apart relationships and in the end, everything was not ugly but is indeed beautiful.
In this sense, the title might have proven to me, that in search of a perfect state or anywhere close to an utopia for actual beauty, which is rather improbable, perhaps it would be more advisable to simply go look after your loved ones, family members, give them your love and care, in a microscopic way of contributing to the world so that what meets us in the end is that beautifying nature of love, of any sorts of intimacy. Being mentioned in the book of those ideologies, political issues, plastics, consumerism, pollution, global warming... they are very spot on and yet, as individuals if we are to eradicate the problems, we can only try and change in that according portion which individuals are bound to contribute. Is it so selfish and unsympathetic as a human being to only look out for the close ones around us, instead of caring about the world as we are global citizens? This I fear not, as mentioned in the book, “Maybe we're just born to love and worry about the people we know, and to go on loving and worrying even when there are more important things we should be doing”. Finding emotional fulfillment in loving and being loved, in caring and being taken cared of, in living and to be lived for... No, it is never bad. “What if the meaning of life on earth is not eternal progress toward some unspecified goal—the engineering and production of more and more powerful technologies, the development of more and more complex and abstruse cultural forms? What if these things just rise and recede naturally, like tides, while the meaning of life remains the same always—just to live and be with other people?” As long as there is meaning to live for, who cares?
One funny thing I have always had about Rooney's work is that I always find her characters resembling and vibing on me in a resonating way. This time, I could see myself, the people around me with their personalities being on every bit of those of the characters. It is deeply reassuring for me-perhaps that is what normality is, nothing is ever special as the masses are never special to achieve huge fame or prosperity or power.
The last bit I think that was worth-mentioning is about the ending, which was a surprise to me corresponding to lockdown, and become a little bit of a COVID novel. That relatablitiy immensely installed in almost every element of the novel... It simply blows me off and again makes Sally Rooney so appreciable in the literature world. I hope this wouldn't give her much pressure due to the fame and the fact that she has rocketed to a shattering height in the area.
This is a beautiful and meaningful masterpiece.

no need for the audiobook narrator to actually moan in my ear during the sex scenes but i appreciate the dedication to the job... do they pay you more for doing that?

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1.5 stars

listen... i own 3 Sally Rooney books and i was so very excited to read them all because EVERYONE loves her but after this book i'm kinda hesitant to pick up her other books.
Maybe i shouldn't have started with this book? idk someone please give me motivation to read her other books because my excitement to read them has completely dried up