I just finished Sally Rooney’s new book, and it did not disappoint. I had high expectations after Normal People and Conversations with Friends, but Beautiful World, Where Are You? rose above and beyond what I anticipated.
Beautiful World, Where Are You? is a force to be reckoned with.
For me, the book stood apart from her other novels in two main ways. First, Rooney evolves her unique writing style by having her characters write letters to each other throughout the novel. I know some people are uncomfortable with Rooney’s choice not to use quotation marks, so the letter style gives her an outlet to convey honest thoughts about modern-day life. Each letter dives deep into questions that humans struggle with every day: what is my life’s purpose? How does religion function in my life? What is the definition of success? The letters serve as a vessel into each character’s mind, highlighting how with all these challenging, existential questions, it can be hard to find beauty in this world.
This is emphasized even further through the inclusion of the pandemic in her novel. Rooney’s book was the first contemporary fiction book I read that directly addresses COVID-19 and has the characters adapt to a new way of life. Including this element of reality was particularly moving for me because it gave space to reflect on how the pandemic influenced my life and the world around me. Again, the letters play a crucial role in this discussion. Only through the letters can the main characters continue their communication during a time when the world shut down.
Throughout the novel, the letters call the readers to consider the many negative elements of our world. Yet, as the novel progresses and the pandemic occurs at the end of the novel, the characters have time to truly consider what is valuable in their lives, separate from other expectations and occurrences in the world. During the pandemic, they can finally answer the titular question: the beautiful world is around them.
While this oversimplifies the character development of the novel itself and real-world implications and challenges, the book was a stark reminder of the little moments. The little moments break the ugliness of the world down and allow each individual to find glimpses of joy and meaning hidden throughout our everyday lives.
It’s a beautiful world with this beautiful book.