In 'Beautiful World, Where Are You', Sally Rooney intricately weaves the lives of two best friends, Alice and Eileen, as they navigate their twenties, love, and the chaos of modern life. Their correspondence reveals not just their personal struggles, but also deep philosophical questions about beauty, purpose, and connection in a fractured world. As their lives intersect with charismatic men, tensions rise and friendships are tested. Rooney's prose captures the nuances of intimacy and vulnerability, leaving readers pondering the essence of human relationships. This beautifully crafted narrative invites you to explore the delicate balance between desire and despair – where do you find beauty in your own world?
By Sally Rooney
Published: 2021
"We are not idealists; we are just trying to enjoy our lives in a world that does not want us to."
Beautiful World, Where Are You is a new novel by Sally Rooney, the bestselling author of Normal People and Conversations with Friends. Alice, a novelist, meets Felix, who works in a warehouse, and asks him if he’d like to travel to Rome with her. In Dublin, her best friend, Eileen, is getting over a break-up, and slips back into flirting with Simon, a man she has known since childhood. Alice, Felix, Eileen, and Simon are still young—but life is catching up with them. They desire each other, they delude each other, they get together, they break apart. They have sex, they worry about sex, they worry about their friendships and the world they live in. Are they standing in the last lighted room before the darkness, bearing witness to something? Will they find a way to believe in a beautiful world?
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“We are not idealists; we are just trying to enjoy our lives in a world that does not want us to.”
Beautiful World, Where Are You
By Sally Rooney
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Sally Rooney is an acclaimed Irish author known for her insightful exploration of contemporary relationships and social dynamics. Her notable works include the bestselling novels 'Conversations with Friends' (2017) and 'Normal People' (2018), both of which have received numerous accolades and adaptations for screen. Rooney's writing style is characterized by its sharp dialogue, psychological depth, and keen observations of human behavior, often blending intimacy with the complexities of modern life.
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