Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney - Goodreads

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 ... Goodreadshelpsyoukeeptrackofbooksyouwanttoread. Startbymarking“BeautifulWorld,WhereAreYou”asWanttoRead: WanttoRead saving… WanttoRead CurrentlyReading Read Othereditions Enlargecover WanttoRead saving… Errorratingbook.Refreshandtryagain. Ratethisbook Clearrating 1of5stars2of5stars3of5stars4of5stars5of5stars OpenPreview SeeaProblem? We’dloveyourhelp. Letusknowwhat’swrongwiththispreviewof BeautifulWorld,WhereAreYoubySallyRooney. Problem: It’sthewrongbook It’sthewrongedition Other Details(ifother):   Cancel Thanksfortellingusabouttheproblem. ReturntoBookPage Notthebookyou’relookingfor? Preview—BeautifulWorld,WhereAreYou bySallyRooney BeautifulWorld,WhereAreYou by SallyRooney(GoodreadsAuthor) 3.75  ·  Ratingdetails ·  95,959 ratings  ·  12,082 reviews BeautifulWorld,WhereAreYouisanewnovelbySallyRooney,thebestsellingauthorofNormalPeopleandConversationswithFriends.Alice,anovelist,meetsFelix,whoworksinawarehouse,andaskshimifhe’dliketotraveltoRomewithher.InDublin,herbestfriend,Eileen,isgettingoverabreak-upandslipsbackintoflirtingwithSimon,amanshehasknownsince BeautifulWorld,WhereAreYouisanewnovelbySallyRooney,thebestsellingauthorofNormalPeopleandConversationswithFriends.Alice,anovelist,meetsFelix,whoworksinawarehouse,andaskshimifhe’dliketotraveltoRomewithher.InDublin,herbestfriend,Eileen,isgettingoverabreak-upandslipsbackintoflirtingwithSimon,amanshehasknownsincechildhood.Alice,Felix,Eileen,andSimonarestillyoung—butlifeiscatchingupwiththem.Theydesireeachother,theydeludeeachother,theygettogether,theybreakapart.Theyhavesex,theyworryaboutsex,theyworryabouttheirfriendshipsandtheworldtheylivein.Aretheystandinginthelastlightedroombeforethedarkness,bearingwitnesstosomething?Willtheyfindawaytobelieveinabeautifulworld? ...more GetACopy KindleStore $14.99 AmazonStores ▾AudibleBarnes&NobleWalmarteBooksAppleBooksGooglePlayAbebooksBookDepositoryAlibrisIndigoBetterWorldBooksIndieBoundThriftbooksLibraries Hardcover,356pages Published September7th2021 byFarrar,StrausandGiroux MoreDetails... OriginalTitle BeautifulWorld,WhereAreYou ISBN 0374602603 (ISBN13:9780374602604) EditionLanguage English Setting Dublin (Ireland) Ireland Rome (Italy) LiteraryAwards GoodreadsChoiceAwardforFiction(2021) OtherEditions(7) AllEditions | AddaNewEdition | Combine ...LessDetail EditDetails FriendReviews Toseewhatyourfriendsthoughtofthisbook, pleasesignup. ReaderQ&A Toaskotherreadersquestionsabout BeautifulWorld,WhereAreYou, pleasesignup. PopularAnsweredQuestions Doesthisbookhavequotationmarks,"..."aroundspokenwords?IhaveNormalPeoplebutcan'treaditasIfinditsodistractingnottohavespeechidentifiedasspeechwithquotationmarks. 33likes · like 4monthsago Seeall19answers CookeShaw Ithinkit'sanunnecessaryconvention.Withwellrenderedcharacters-andlet'sbereal,thosearetheonlyoneswhoRooneyfuckswith-theaudienc…moreIthinkit'sanunnecessaryconvention.Withwellrenderedcharacters-andlet'sbereal,thosearetheonlyoneswhoRooneyfuckswith-theaudienceisalreadyawareofwhoisspeaking.Itbecomesintuitive,sothatwedon'tneedspeechmarksclutteringupthepage.(less) flag Sothisisbasicallyacopy-pasteofConversationswithFriends,butwithslightlyoldercharactersandanevenweakerplot? 31likes · like 4monthsago Seeall4answers ViktoriyaKokareva Actually,Ithinkthatit'shardtocomparethembecauseRooneyishardlyjustabouttheplot.Tomeitseemedthatstylisticallyandpsychologically…moreActually,Ithinkthatit'shardtocomparethembecauseRooneyishardlyjustabouttheplot.TomeitseemedthatstylisticallyandpsychologicallytheBeautifulWorldwasmoreprofound.Yes,sometopicsmayhaveappearedinConversationbut,onceagain,thathadacompletelydifferentangleanddepthasthecharactersaredifferent(less) flag Seeall17questionsaboutBeautifulWorld,WhereAreYou… ListswithThisBook GoodreadsChoiceAwards2021(eligibleforwrite-inonly) 2,647books — 3,558voters BestBooksof2021 921books — 1,087voters Morelistswiththisbook... CommunityReviews Showing1-30 Averagerating 3.75  ·  Ratingdetails  ·  95,959 ratings  ·  12,082 reviews AllLanguagesBahasaIndonesia‎(4) Català‎(35) Dansk‎(15) Deutsch‎(56) Eesti‎(1) English‎(10553) Español‎(348) Euskara,euskera‎(1) Français‎(19) Italiano‎(46) Latviešuvaloda‎(2) Lietuviųkalba‎(4) Magyar‎(8) Nederlands‎(110) Norsk‎(10) Polski‎(11) Português‎(189) Pусскийязык‎(19) Slovenčina‎(4) Suomi‎(11) Svenska‎(68) TiếngViệt‎(2) Türkçe‎(5) hrvatski‎(2) Íslenska‎(6) česky,čeština‎(5) Ελληνικά‎(1) българскиезик‎(3) српскијезик‎(6) українська‎(2) עברית‎(1) العربية‎(3) 中文‎(1) Morefilters  |  Sortorder StartyourreviewofBeautifulWorld,WhereAreYouWriteareview Jan12,2021 emma ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: owned, i-love-these-characters, recommend, comments, auto-buy-authors, favorites-2021, favorite-authors, reread, literary-fiction, owned-multiple Well,well,well.Lookwhatthecatdraggedin.Mylimitedandrarelytestedabilitiestowriteafivestarreview,everdecayinganddecreasingfromlackofuse.Wemeetagain.Iwillcontinuetomakemyownlackofskilltheaudienceforthisreview,justforamoment,becausethisisaspecialoccasion.Thisisn'tjustanyfivestarbook,althoughthatwouldbeafairlyonceinabluemooneventaswell.YouandI-you,ofcourse,beingmyminimaltalents-needtogetittogether.ThisisaSALL Well,well,well.Lookwhatthecatdraggedin.Mylimitedandrarelytestedabilitiestowriteafivestarreview,everdecayinganddecreasingfromlackofuse.Wemeetagain.Iwillcontinuetomakemyownlackofskilltheaudienceforthisreview,justforamoment,becausethisisaspecialoccasion.Thisisn'tjustanyfivestarbook,althoughthatwouldbeafairlyonceinabluemooneventaswell.YouandI-you,ofcourse,beingmyminimaltalents-needtogetittogether.ThisisaSALLYROONEYbook.AndnotjustanySallyRooneybook,butpossiblymyFAVORITESallyRooneybook.Couldverywellbemyfavoritebookbywhoislikelymyfavoriteauthor,inotherwords.Rooneyhaspublishedoneexcerpt,oneessay,threenovels,andfourshortstories,andIhavereadherwork22times,intotal.Alsonotably,thereisabookIhavecalledthefollowing:-myBible-thebookofmyheart-myliteralandfigurativeself,distilledintopages-mymostrecommendedbook-myfavoritebookofthelast150years-nearlymyfavoritebookofalltime,secondonlytoAlice'sAdventuresinWonderland-mycomfortbook-theclosestthingIhavetoareligionIt'sabookcalledConversationswithFriends,it'salsowrittenbySallyRooney,anditseemstohavebeendethronedbythisone.There'sareasonI'veputoffwritingthisreviewfortwoandahalfmonths.Thestakesaref*ckinghigh.SowheredoIgofromhere?Icantellyouthat,solongasIlive,Iexpectnevertoencounterwritinglikethisagain.Writingsoclearandlovely,writingthatsummonsnewimagesandthoughtsandemotionsyou'veneverconsideredandactsasakindacknowledgmentofthescariestanddeepestandtruestonesyouquietlyhave.Icansaythatthisbookbeginswithalaunch,atossingintothepool,anunceremoniousjumpinginthat'smorelikeacontinuation,anassumptionyou'vebeenthereallalong.Thatthoughitbeginssuddenlyitfeelslikecominghome.IcannotethatthesearesomeofRooney'sbestandworstlovestories,theonesyourootforthemostwiththemostcomplicatedand"bad"andproblematicpeoplepopulatingthem,andthatit'ssobeautifultohavethosetwothingscoexist.Icanattempttoworkoutmyfeelingsaboutthesecharacters,thatwhileIfeelforthemandamfascinatedbythemandmayadorethem,it'salmostbesidethepointofeverythingelse.Thatforme,apersonwhoreadsforcharacters,thecharactersarewonderfullydoneandtherealestyet,andtheleastimportantpart,forme.IcanaddthatthisisalsoanincredibleactofbraverybyRooney,thatitservesahugeleapinscopeandinstyleandinintentionfromherpreviousbooks,thatshehasbeencriticizedformuchofherstill-nascentcareerinawaythatfeelsmean-spiritedbytheagingtotemsofLiterature,andthatinsteadofduckingherheadandconcedingtothecharacterizationofherworkasvapidandmillennial,shefilledherthirdbookwithsomuchheartit'shardtofathom.Icantrytodescribewhatthisbookmeanstome,whatit'sliketospendmostofyourlifetryingoncynicismlikeaHalloweencostume,scratchyandseamyandnotquiteright,toindulgeinpithy"Ihateeveryone"negativitywhenpeopleseemtobetheonlyrealreasonlifeisworthliving,andthenhaveyourveryfavoriteauthor-who,itmayhavebeenmentioned,holdsafairlyoutsizeroleinyourheartandmind-tellyoushethinksso,too.Iwantyoutoknow,andIcantrytoconvey,thatloveandfriendshipareallthatmatters,andthatthisbookistheloveliestwayofgivingyourselfthegiftoflettingyourselfbelievethat.Iwilltrytotellyousomanythingsiftheygetyoutoreadthisbook.Bottomline:Thisisaonceinalifetimeone,forme.-----------------noteasifineededmorereasonstofindthisbookcompletelyperfect:freepalestine-----------------rereadpre-reviewthefirsttimeireadthis,ifinisheditinasitting.thesecondtime,isavoredeveryword.reviewtocome/5stars/moreificould-----------------rereadupdatesipromiseiresistedrereadingforaslongasicould.-----------------releasedayhappyreleasedaytotheperfectbook-----------------pre-reviewsallyrooneyistheonlypersonalivewhocantakemeoutofareadingslumpandputmebackinoneday.reviewtocome/5stars-----------------currently-readingupdatesdepressedandhungover.thisbookisgoingtoeatmeforbreakfast.-----------------tbrreviewnottobedramaticbutthisbook'sannouncementiscurrentlythemostexcitingthingintheworldtomeupdate4/13:COVERCOVERCOVERupdate9/4:thankyou,bookofthemonth,BECAUSEMYCOPYISHERE!!!IT'SHERE!!!IT'SHAPPENING!!! ...more flag 1067likes · Like  · seereview Viewall56comments ShireenHakim YesagreelovehowSallysupportsPalestine❤️✌️ Dec24,202110:36PM · flag Cathyt ToEmmaforthisreview!Wow!Ijustgotthisbookfrommylibrary,andhavenotyetopenedit.Icameforthereviews,andreadyours!,andwhatare ToEmmaforthisreview!Wow!Ijustgotthisbookfrommylibrary,andhavenotyetopenedit.Icameforthereviews,andreadyours!,andwhatareviewitis!Idobelieveyoushouldopenyourlaptop,andthinkaboutwritingyourownbook!Youdohaveawaywithwords! ...more Dec27,202108:16AM · flag Sep15,2021 EmilyMay ratedit reallylikedit Shelves: contemporary, 2021 Idon'tknowwhatitis.AllofyouscratchingyourheadsaboutthesuccessofthisbookandNormalPeople...Igetit.IwasactuallysomewhatirritatedbyBeautifulWorld,WhereAreYou.Thecharacterswereannoying,oftenoutrightobnoxious,deeplypretentiousintheirphilosophicalmusings...kindalike,asIsaidinmyreviewofNP,"JohnGreenforadults."Andyet...Ifoundthemweirdlyfascinating."Like"isnotthewordIwoulduseforthisbook,butIwasveryinterestedinit.Iwallowe Idon'tknowwhatitis.AllofyouscratchingyourheadsaboutthesuccessofthisbookandNormalPeople...Igetit.IwasactuallysomewhatirritatedbyBeautifulWorld,WhereAreYou.Thecharacterswereannoying,oftenoutrightobnoxious,deeplypretentiousintheirphilosophicalmusings...kindalike,asIsaidinmyreviewofNP,"JohnGreenforadults."Andyet...Ifoundthemweirdlyfascinating."Like"isnotthewordIwoulduseforthisbook,butIwasveryinterestedinit.Iwallowedinthecharacters'extremelydepressingpersonalities,cringedateveryawkwardconversation(andtherewere,indeed,many),andcaredwhetherthetwolovestorieswouldworkout.Thestoryisaboutfourpeopleintheirlatetwenties/earlythirtieshaving,navigatingandtalkingaboutsexandrelationships.Throwinsomephilosophicaldiscussionsandyoubasicallyhavetheplotofthewholebook.Butsomethingaboutthisauthor'swritingreallygetsundermyskinandplaysonmyanxiety.Somethingintheawkwardness,thethingsleftunsaid,theconversationsnothadandthepeopleunwillingtoopenupandriskgettinghurt.Andthepeoplewillingto.Ireadwiththishardlumpinthebackofmythroat.Don'taskmetoexplainwhyIwassointoabookwherethecharactersnod,blink,smilefaintly,stareinsilenceandexchangeglancesmultipletimesonapage.Ihavenoexplanation.ButifRooney'sgrowingpopularityisanythingtogoby,Ican'tbetheonlyweirdoouttherewhofallsforthiscrap. ...more flag 2176likes · Like  · seereview Viewall79comments poema ifeelthesame.iwassuperannoyedbyallthemetaphysicalbullsheiteandalicewhoidislikedsostrongly(stillsortofdo)butthenireadthee ifeelthesame.iwassuperannoyedbyallthemetaphysicalbullsheiteandalicewhoidislikedsostrongly(stillsortofdo)butthenireadtheendanditallcametogetherinawaythatididn’tactuallyexpect???ireallylikedit ...more Dec28,202106:08AM · flag Nancy_wayneDidelko Thxforthishelpfulreview.IsithereaskingmyselfwhyIfinishedthebookwhenthewomencharacterswereintolerable.Iwantedthemto“growup”. Thxforthishelpfulreview.IsithereaskingmyselfwhyIfinishedthebookwhenthewomencharacterswereintolerable.Iwantedthemto“growup”.Maybethisisthepurposeofthisbook:remindingushowdifficultitistomatureorevolveintobrave,responsibleandcompassionateadults.Therealityofhumannesshitsushardinthisbook.Ilikedtheemailbanterandtheirreflections.Intheend,IenjoyedFelix’scharacterthemost:honest,open,least“cultured”amidstthecerebralandself-absorbedothers.Not5starsbutthebookstaysinmyheadtoponder,whichIlike. ...more Dec29,202104:32AM · flag Aug27,2021 JackEdwards ratedit itwasamazing Amaturedeparturefromherpreviouswork,BWWAYisexactlythenovelweneedrightnowfromoneoftheworld'smostpromisingandimpressiveauthors.Rooney'scharacteristicstyleglimmersamongstfascinatingconversations(sansquotationmarks)aboutclimateanxiety,class-consciousness,andlanguage.Ultimately,though,it'spersonalrelationships,communication,love,andsexthatthecharactersmustnavigate,astheydesperatelytrytoidentifybeautyintheireverydayencounters.Aliceis Amaturedeparturefromherpreviouswork,BWWAYisexactlythenovelweneedrightnowfromoneoftheworld'smostpromisingandimpressiveauthors.Rooney'scharacteristicstyleglimmersamongstfascinatingconversations(sansquotationmarks)aboutclimateanxiety,class-consciousness,andlanguage.Ultimately,though,it'spersonalrelationships,communication,love,andsexthatthecharactersmustnavigate,astheydesperatelytrytoidentifybeautyintheireverydayencounters.Aliceisasuccessfulyoungnovelist,whichallowsRooneytodiscussherownspaceinthelandscapeofcontemporarynovel-writing.Arebooksaboutsexandrelationshipsreallyjustunimportant,privileged,inanefrivolity?Orhasthepastyearoflockdownandisolationmadeusrealisethat,actually,communicationwiththepeopleweloveisintegraltoourdailylives,andworthexploringinliterature?Thisbookistestamenttothelatter.BWWAYisRooney'smostnaturalintegrationofprofound,intellectual,andelevatedconversationsamidstthedazzlingordinarinessofherflawed,imperfectprotagonists,andtheexquisiteprecisionofdetailinthisbookistrulymasterful.It'sbelievable,perceptive,andatreasureofabook.Possiblyherbestyet.Watchmyfullreadingvloghere:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEUAA...[ThankyoutoFaberformyadvancedcopyofthisbook--allopinions100%myown] ...more flag 2683likes · Like  · seereview Viewall34comments Sep16,2021 TaylorJenkinsReid addedit Shelves: 2021 She’sback!InBeautifulWorld,WhereAreYouwefollowAlice,Felix,Eileen,andSimonthroughtheupsanddownsoflifeincludingtheirfriendshipsandrelationshipswitheachother.Rooneygrappleswithmanyquestionsinhernewestnovel,fromthevariousdefinitionsofsuccesstohowonefindshopeinanoftentimeshopelessworld,allwithhertrademarkemotionalandthoughtfulprose.Ifyoulovedherothers,youwilllovethisone,too.It’spureSallyRooney. flag 617likes · Like  · seereview Viewall5comments Jan12,2021 SahilJaved ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: favorites, bookshelf, lgbtq, contemporary, irish-fiction BeautifulWorld,WhereAreYouopenswithAlice,anovelist,meetingFelix,awarehouseworker.SheaskshimifhewantstotraveltoRomewithher.InDublin,herbestfriendEileenisgettingoverabreakupandslipsbackintoflirtingwithherchildhoodbestfriend,Simon.Inthisbeautifulworld,Alice,Felix,EileenandSimonnavigatesex,friendship,relationshipsandtheintricaciesandcomplexitiesoftheworldtheylivein. “Maybewe’rejustborntoloveandworryaboutthepeo BeautifulWorld,WhereAreYouopenswithAlice,anovelist,meetingFelix,awarehouseworker.SheaskshimifhewantstotraveltoRomewithher.InDublin,herbestfriendEileenisgettingoverabreakupandslipsbackintoflirtingwithherchildhoodbestfriend,Simon.Inthisbeautifulworld,Alice,Felix,EileenandSimonnavigatesex,friendship,relationshipsandtheintricaciesandcomplexitiesoftheworldtheylivein. “Maybewe’rejustborntoloveandworryaboutthepeopleweknow,andtogoonlovingandworryingevenwhentherearemoreimportantthingsweshouldbedoing.Andifthatmeansthehumanspeciesisgoingtodieout,isn’titinawayanicereasontodieout,thenicestreasonyoucanimagine?Becausewhenweshouldhavebeenreorganisingthedistributionoftheworld’sresourcesandtransitioningcollectivelytoasustainableeconomicmodel,wewereworryingaboutsexandfriendshipinstead.Becausewelovedeachothertoomuchandfoundeachothertoointeresting.AndIlovethatabouthumanity,andinfactit’stheveryreasonIrootforustosurvive–becausewearesostupidabouteachother.” IknewbeforeIevenstartedreadingthisbookthatIwasgoingtoloveit.Heck,whenitwasannouncedIknewIwasgoingtoloveit.Therewasabsolutelynodoubtaboutthat.IadoredNormalPeopleandConversationswithFriendssomuch,anduponrereadingthem,Ifellinlovewiththemalloveragain.IwasluckyenoughtoreceiveanearlycopyofthisbookandwhenIsaythat’sthebestthingthat’shappenedtomethisyear,Idon’tmeanitlightly.Idevouredthisbook.IreaditwithinonesittingbecauseIcouldnotputitdownandcouldn’tgoonwithoutwantingtoknowwhatwasgoingoninallofthecharacter’slives.IthinkSallyRooneyisincapableofwritingabadbookandI’dgoasfarastosaythatthisisherbestoneyet,althoughIdon’tknowifthat’sjustthehighIwasfeelingtalkingonceIfinishedit.ForfansofSallyRooney’searlierwork,youwon’tbedisappointed.It’samixofbothNormalPeopleandConversationswithFriendswhilstsimultaneouslyfeelinglikeamorematurepieceofwork. “AttimesIthinkofhumanrelationshipsassomethingsoftlikesandorwater,andbypouringthemintoparticularvesselswegivethemshape.Soamother’srelationshipwithherdaughterispouredintoavesselmarked‘motherandchild’,andtherelationshiptakesthecontoursofitscontainerandisheldinsidethere,forbetterorworse.Maybesomeunhappyfriendswouldhavebeenperfectlycontentedassisters,ormarriedcouplesasparentsandchildren,whoknows.Butwhatwoulditbeliketoformarelationshipwithnopreordainedshapeofanykind?Justtoputthewateroutandletitfall.” OneofmyfavouritethingsaboutRooney’snovels,andwhatIfoundespeciallyfascinatingaboutthisoneinparticular,ishercharacters,thedynamicsandinteractionsbetweenthemandotherpeople,andthewaytheybehaveandarecharacterised.Allofhercharactersinthisone,Alice,Eileen,Felix,Simon,theyallfeltsorealandauthentic,evenifthatmeanttheywerealittleunlikeableattimes(I’mlookingatyouFelix.)ButisitaSallyRooneyifthecharactersdon’trubyouthewrongwayattimes?AlthoughI’msurprisedtosaythatIactuallydidn’tdislikethecharactersatall,evenifFelixgotonmynervesatthebeginninghebecamebetterthroughoutthenovel.Ifeltsuchaconnectiontothecharacters,rootingforthemasiftheyweremyownfriends.IwantedAliceandFelix’srelationshiptosucceed,justlikeIwantedEileenandSimontofinallygettogether,withthesameintensityIfeltforConnellandMarianneinNormalPeopleandFrancesandNickinConversationswithFriends.LikeIlovedthesecharacterssomuch,individuallyandtogether,especiallythefriendshipstheyhaveandtherelationshipstheyform. “Aren’tweunfortunatebabiestobebornwhentheworldended?Afterthattherewasnochancefortheplanet,andnochanceforus.Ormaybeitwasjusttheendofonecivilisation,ours,andatsometimeinthefutureanotherwilltakeitsplace.Inthatcasewearestandinginthelastlightedroombeforethedarkness,bearingwitnesstosomething.” LikeIsaidbefore,it’snotaSallyRooneynovelifyoudon’tdislikethecharactersattimesandalthoughIactuallyreallylovedthecharacters,theystillannoyedmeattimes,especiallyEileenwhojustcouldn’tadmitthatshewantedtobewithSimon!Itwassofrustratingwatchingherpushhimawaywhenshecouldn’tadmitthatshewantedhim.Anditannoyedme.ButIlovedhowmuchitannoyedmebecauseItrulywantedthesecharacterstobehappy.Isthatweird?It’sprobablyweird.SamewithAliceandFelix,whohadthisweirdsortofunhealthyrelationshipattimeswheretheytriedtohurtoneanother,moreFelixthanAlice,whichultimatelycamefromaplaceofinsecurity.ButwhatIlovedaboutthisbookisthateverythingisaddressed,thecharacters,althoughattimesmiscommunicationisprevalentintheirinteractions(woulditbeaSallyRooneynovelifitwasn’t?),theytalktooneanotherandworkthroughtheirissues,andtheauthormanagestocapturethatawkwardness,vulnerabilityandlayersofinsecurityperfectlywithinthoseinteractionsbetweencharacters.ButI’mreallyhappywithwherethecharactersendedupandthatweactuallygotaprettysolidanddefinedendingwhichisprettyrareforMissRooney.Isshefeelingokay?AfterIfinished,Ifeltreallyhappyandsatisfiedandwaswonderingwhatthehellwasgoingon. “It’sstillbettertolovesomethingthannothing,bettertolovesomeonethannoone,andI’mhere,livingintheworld,notwishingforamomentthatIwasn’t.Isn’tthatinitsownwayaspecialgift,ablessing,somethingveryimportant?” Witheverynovel,eventheonesyouabsolutelyadore,therearegoingtobeaspectsthatyoudidn’tparticularlyvibewith.Forme,theemailsbetweenAliceandEileenwerealittlepretentiousandoftenalittletoomuch.Istruggledtoconcentrateonthem,especiallywhenthey’dgointosomedeepintellectualrantbutthiswasmoreatthebeginningofthenovelandtheygoteasiertofollowthroughout.TheonethingIabsolutelyloathedthoughwastheintroductionandinclusionofthepandemicandlockdownintotheplot.IreadtoforgetandIreallydon’tthinkitwasnecessarytoincludeitatall.IunderstandRooney’snovelsdocontainreferencesandallusionstothingsthathavehappenedintherealworldbuttheyaresubtleandnotinyourface.Thisfeltsointrusiveanditfelttoojarringandtookmeoutofthestory.Also,IknowthatSallyRooneyhadbeenworkingonthisbooksince2018soIabsolutelyknowthattheinclusionofthelockdownwasjustworkedintotheplotforwhateverbizarrereason. “EileenputherarmaroundAlice’sshoulders.Ifyouweren’tmyfriendIwouldn’tknowwhoIwas,shesaid.AlicerestedherfaceinEileen’sarm,closinghereyes.No,sheagreed.Iwouldn’tknowwhoIwaseither.AndactuallyforawhileIdidn’t.EileenlookeddownatAlice’ssmallblondehead,nestledonthesleeveofhersweatshirt.NeitherdidI,shesaid.” Anothergloriousthingaboutthisnovel,thatwasn’tasmuchofapresenttopicinNormalPeopleorConversationswithFriends,despitethequeercharactersinthelatter,isthefrankandhonestconversationsaboutsexuality.Felixisbisexual,orpansexual?Hestatesthatgenderdoesn’treallymattertohim.AndAliceisbisexual.Andtheconversationsthattheyhavewithoneanotheraboutthiswerereallyrefreshingtoreadabout,exploringbiphobia,andexperiencesoffallinginlovethathavenothingtodowithgender.AndAlice’sexplorationsofthemeaningofsexandsexualityinheremailstoEileenwerealsoveryinterestingtoreadanditswhatmadethisbookevenbetterforme. “Iwastired,itwaslate,Iwassittinghalf-asleepinthebackofataxi,rememberingstrangelythatwhereIgo,youarewithme,andsoishe,andthataslongasyoubothlivetheworldwillbebeautifultome.” Overall,BeautifulWorld,WhereAreYouistrulyabeautifulworkofart.IwouldgoasfarastosaythatitisSallyRooney’sbookyet.Ineedhertokeepwritingbooks,becauseIjustcan’tgetenough.IlovethecharactersshecreatesandIlovewatchingtheminteractandloveandhurtandgrowandprosperandsucceedandthrive.TheexperienceofreadingthiswasreallyenjoyableandIwishIcoulderasemymemorysothatIcouldreaditalloveragainforthefirsttime.sallyrooneyhasanewbookcomingout?ican'twaittoloveandhatethesecharactersallatthesametime. ...more flag 459likes · Like  · seereview Viewall9comments Jul21,2021 LucyDacus ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition wellshe’sdoneitagain,Ithinkit’sherbest flag 453likes · Like  · seereview Viewall8comments Sep11,2021 Thomas ratedit itwasok Shelves: own-electronic, romance, adult-fiction, read-on-nook LetmestartthisreviewbysayingthatIthinkSallyRooneyisanexcellentwriteronthesentencelevel.Everywordmovestheplotforwardorillustratesameaningfuldetailabouthercharacters.Herdialogueinparticularisextraordinary.EventhoughIhadmixedfeelingsabout ConversationswithFriends andkindadetested NormalPeople ,IstillreadthisnovelbecauseIrememberedhowimmersedIfeltinherpastcharacters’conversationswithoneanother.Forexample,inBeautifulWo LetmestartthisreviewbysayingthatIthinkSallyRooneyisanexcellentwriteronthesentencelevel.Everywordmovestheplotforwardorillustratesameaningfuldetailabouthercharacters.Herdialogueinparticularisextraordinary.EventhoughIhadmixedfeelingsabout ConversationswithFriends andkindadetested NormalPeople ,IstillreadthisnovelbecauseIrememberedhowimmersedIfeltinherpastcharacters’conversationswithoneanother.Forexample,inBeautifulWorld,WhereAreYouthere’sonesceneinwhichEileenseesSimonataweddingandthenarrativedoesthismontage-esquetimelapsethingwhereitrecountsasignificantportionofEileenandSimon’scoming-of-agewithoneanotherwithinthespanofhalfachapterorso.Thissectionofthenovelliterallytookmybreathaway,likeIliterallypausedattheendofthechapterandthoughttomyself“wow,shedidthat.”Thatbeingsaid,Istillsignificantlydislikedthisnovel,especiallyitslatterhalf.Forthefirst50%IthoughtBeautifulWorld,WhereAreYoumightserveasmyfirsthigher-than-three-starSallyRooneynovel,thenmanyelementsofthebooktookanosedive.Herearethetopthreefeaturesofthisbookthatsoureditforme.1.Alackofdepthinthecharacters’motivationsanddesires.Forexample,atonepointEileenwritestoAlicethatshefeelsthatherlifewouldhavebeensignificantlybetterifshehadmarriedSimonearlieron.EileenalsopushesandpullsSimonawayfromherthroughoutthenovel.However,there’snodeeperexplorationofwhyEileenfeelssoincompleteandwretchedwithoutSimonnoristhereanysincereintrospectionaboutwhyshetreatshimthewayshedoes.IfeellikebecauseRooneyissuchatalentedwriter,shemakesEileenandtheothercharacters’angstabouttheirsituationssointerestinganddynamic.However,interestinganddynamicangstisnotthesamethingasangstthatisactuallyprocessedorlearnedfrom.There’sabigmomentattheendofthenovelwithallfourcharactersthatkindafunctionsasthismajorcatharsisfollowedbyadenouement,thoughIdidn’tobserveanyincreasedself-awarenessthereeither.2.RooneyfocusesontheromanticdynamicsbetweenEileenandSimonandAliceandFelixattheexpenseofmorerobustcharacterdevelopment.WhileRooney,again,writesimmersiveconversationsandscenesbetweenthesecharactersandtheirloveinterests,thefocusontheromanticelementsdetractedfrommorenuancedgrowth.Eileenfacesacomplicateddynamicwithhersisterandtheirparents,whileAliceexperiencedpsychiatrichospitalizationandcontinuestofacementalhealthissues.InsteadofdevelopingtheseaspectsofEileenandAlice,RooneythrowsthemintosituationswithSimonandFelixoverandoverwithnoreprieve.EvenwhenEileenandAlicefinallyreuniteinperson,SimonandFelixarepresentandtakeupspacethatcouldhavebeenspentfleshingoutthewomen’sfriendship.Theendingofthenovelthusfeltcheapenedgiventhelackofactualgrowthonanyofthecharacters’behalf.3.Okay,whattheheckpurposedidFelixserveinthisnovel?Felixisliterallyanawful,emotionallyvolatilemanandthere’snoaccountabilityforhisactionsnorabasicrecognitionofhisgarbagebehaviors?Hewatchespornographythat’sdegradingtowomen,isoutrightmeantoAliceonmultipleoccasions,iscrueltoEileenaboutherfriendshipwithAlice,triestotakeadvantageofSimonwhenSimonexperiencesamomentofemotionalfragility,andavoidscommunicatingwithhisbrotherlikeanybasichumandecentbeingwouldaftertheirmomdies.Theworstpartaboutallofthisisthatthenoveldoesn’tevenreprimandFelixforthesebehaviorsnordoesitexploretherootofhisactionsinanevenhalfhearted-way,itjustletsFelixacthorribleandenduprelativelyunscathed.IfyoureadthisbookandthinkthatthewayFelixtreatspeopleisinanywayokay,pleasereadabouthealthyrelationshipbehaviorsbecauseIpromisethatyoudonotdeservetobetreatedlikehowFelixtreatsessentiallyeveryoneinthisnovel.Despiteallthesecomplaints,there’sasmallchanceImayreadRooney’snextnovelanywayjustbecauseofthequalityofherwriting.Thenovelposesaninterestingoverarchingthematicquestionofwhetherit’sokaytofocusonfriendshipsandrelationshipswhentheworldiscollapsing,however,Iwishthatthecharactersinthisnovelwereactuallybetterdevelopedtoallowforamorerobustexplorationofthatquestion.I’llendthisreviewbysayingthatthereareseveralbookswrittenbywomenofcoloraboutwomenofcolorwhoactuallygrowandhealinmessyyetbeautifulways,andit’soppressivethatthesebooksdon’treceiveashighratingsorasmanyratings/reviewsasSallyRooney’sbooks.YoucanfindexamplesonmyGoodreadsshelf,thoughI’llrecommendafewhere: YouExistTooMuch byZainaArafat, AWorldBetween byEmilyHashimoto,and WhenWeWereInfinite byKellyLoyGilbert. ...more flag 441likes · Like  · seereview Viewall30comments CoralWard Halfwaythroughthisnovel,isitgoodenoughtofinish?AgreewithallofyourcommentsaboutFelix,heisdisgustingandshouldbetornapartbythe Halfwaythroughthisnovel,isitgoodenoughtofinish?AgreewithallofyourcommentsaboutFelix,heisdisgustingandshouldbetornapartbytheauthor,notcondonedbysilence.Writingiscleverbutisthatenough.Thankyouforputtingthewordsinyourreviewtomythoughts. ...more Dec18,202101:27PM · flag Sarah Felixwastheworstcharactereverandmademehatethebook. Dec26,202109:25AM · flag Aug31,2021 BarryPierce ratedit likedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: 21st-century, read-in-2021 reviewedthisinatwitterthreadsoi'mtransplantingthatherethetea?ithinkit’sgood.ithinksallyhasmanagedto‘mature’herwritingverysuccessfully.also,sallyhasjokes!agoodalternativetitlewouldbeSallyRooney’sSurprisinglyDowntoEarthandVeryFunny.fuckinghellisitbloatedhowever,likeacorpsepulledfromariver.at337pages,rooney’sstyleisabsolutelymax’doutandher‘solidblocksoftext’approachtoprosefeelslikeanabsolutepunishmentinsomesections.t reviewedthisinatwitterthreadsoi'mtransplantingthatherethetea?ithinkit’sgood.ithinksallyhasmanagedto‘mature’herwritingverysuccessfully.also,sallyhasjokes!agoodalternativetitlewouldbeSallyRooney’sSurprisinglyDowntoEarthandVeryFunny.fuckinghellisitbloatedhowever,likeacorpsepulledfromariver.at337pages,rooney’sstyleisabsolutelymax’doutandher‘solidblocksoftext’approachtoprosefeelslikeanabsolutepunishmentinsomesections.thewholeSally-masquerading-as-Alicestuffisimmenselytriteandfartoocringeforme.like,wegetitsally,yourlifeisterriblebutyou’realsoamillionairesomaybereadtheroom?yettherelationshipbetweenAliceandEileenisherstrongestyet.andit’showweslowlydiscovermoreabouttheirlivesandhoweverythingslowlyunfoldsthatthenovelreallywinsmeover.obviouslyitisntnormalpeople,andiapplaudherwritinganovelthatjustSOISN’Tnormalpeoplelmaoneverhoweverhaveibeensosurethatanovelwillabsolutelywinovercriticsbutmaydieinthehandsofthereaders.iwillsayiamoneofthefewvoicesinmyextendedgroupwhowilloutwardlysaythatithinkitisgood.whichisstrange,especiallyforme.itisaroughbeast.buti’mlookingforwardtorevisitingitrelativelysoon. ...more flag 432likes · Like  · seereview Viewall5comments Sep29,2021 Nataliya ratedit itwasok Shelves: 2021-reads “Purposefulawkwardness”ishowIcandescribethisbookinjusttwowords.Idon’tknowwhetherthatgoesalongwithsupposedlybeingavoiceofanentiregenerationtowhichIbelong—butawkwardnesspermeateseverything,andmyreactionsfluctuatedbetweenboredom,periodiccringingandoccasionalsparkofrecognitionandrelatability—whichunfortunatelyendedupburiedundertheawkwardbitsmuchtoooften.Oh,andbeforeIforgetintherantstocome—dearwriters,pleaseohpleasedono “Purposefulawkwardness”ishowIcandescribethisbookinjusttwowords.Idon’tknowwhetherthatgoesalongwithsupposedlybeingavoiceofanentiregenerationtowhichIbelong—butawkwardnesspermeateseverything,andmyreactionsfluctuatedbetweenboredom,periodiccringingandoccasionalsparkofrecognitionandrelatability—whichunfortunatelyendedupburiedundertheawkwardbitsmuchtoooften.Oh,andbeforeIforgetintherantstocome—dearwriters,pleaseohpleasedonotskipdialoguetagsinyourwriting.Why???It’snotfreshordaringbutjustirritating,andIknowyouknowhowtousethem.It’sastoryaboutnothingmuch,really.Itfollowsfourpeoplewhomakeuptwoeventualcouples-AliceandFelixandontheothersideofthecountryEileenandSimon.Therearemultitudesofdetailsoftheirdailyroutines,eitherpointlesslyawkwardorperhapsprofound(dependingonthepointofview,Isuppose)conversations-verbalandtextmessages-andquiteafewpagesofdetailed,mechanisticandhonestlyquiteboringandexceedinglyawkwardalmost-voyeristicsex.AndeveryotherchapterthereisacompletetoneshiftfromthattotheflourishinglongemailsbetweenEileenandAliceaboutmoreprofoundthingsinlife,attimessophisticatedandattimesnaiveandyetpainfullyearnestandquiteabitreminiscentofthosewine-fueledintellectualconversationsincollegeinwhichtruthseekingwasstubbornlypursued. Icanreadstoriesaboutnothingmuch.Butwhatmademecringeandshruginfrustratedboredomwasthelanguageofthebulkofthebook,clearlydoneintentionallyasthoseinterludeemailsshowacompletelydifferentandmuchmoreengagingstyle.Butthemajorityofthebookiswrittenbasicallylikeascreenplay,withstep-by-stepinstructions.What’swithallthesedetails?Isitanattemptatdistancingthereaderandhavethemfigurethingsoutontheirown?Isitagimmickthatforsomereasonsoundedinterestingatonepoint?Isitcompassionforthepersoneventuallyadaptingthistothebigorsmallscreen?Isuspectthelatter,giventhatthiswillprobablyjointhequeueofRooneyadaptations.Seriously,checkthisout: “Heaskedherwhatshewantedtodrinkandthenwenttothebartoorder.Thewaitressaskedhowhewasgettingon,andheanswered:Goodyeah,yourself?Heorderedavodkatonicandapintoflager.Ratherthancarryingthebottleoftonicbacktothetable,heemptieditintotheglasswithaquickandpractisedmovementofhiswrist.Thewomanatthetabletappedherfingersonabeermat,waiting.Heroutwardattitudehadbecomemorealertandlivelysincethemanhadenteredtheroom.Shelookedoutsidenowatthesunsetasifitwereofinteresttoher,thoughshehadn’tpaidanyattentiontoitbefore.Whenthemanreturnedandputthedrinksdown,adropoflagerspilledoverandshewatcheditsrapidprogressdownthesideofhisglass.” Imaginationrestshereasithasnothingtodo.Everythingisspelledout.Everything.Imean,here’sthepassagethatshouldhavebeen“shefoundherkeysandopenedthedoor”: “Shewalkedlightlyupthepathandsearchedinherhandbagforthehousekeys.Thenoiseofthekeyswasaudiblesomewhereinsidethebagbutshedidn’tseemtobeabletofindthem.Hestoodtherenotsayinganything.Sheapologisedforthedelayandswitchedonthetorchfunctiononherphone,lightingtheinteriorofherbagandcastingacoldgreylightonthefrontstepsofthehousealso.Hehadhishandsinhispockets.Gotthem,shesaid.Thensheunlockedthedoor.” Tiredreadingthedetailsyet?Ohdear,nowimaginetheentirebooklikethis: “AttwentypasttwelveonaWednesdayafternoon,awomansatbehindadeskinasharedofficeinDublincitycentre,scrollingthroughatextdocument.Shehadverydarkhair,sweptbacklooselyintoatortoiseshellclasp,andshewaswearingagreysweatertuckedintoblackcigarettetrousers.Usingthesoftgreasyrolleronhercomputermousesheskimmedoverthedocument,eyesflickingbackandforthacrossnarrowcolumnsoftext,andoccasionallyshestopped,clicked,andinsertedordeletedcharacters.Mostfrequentlyshewasinsertingtwofullstopsintothename‘WHAuden’,inordertostandardiseitsappearanceas‘W.H.Auden’.Whenshereachedtheendofthedocument,sheopenedasearchcommand,selectedtheMatchCaseoptionandsearched:‘WH’.Nomatchesappeared.” AndhereisSallyRooneyforsomereasonexplainingtoMillenialshowtouseGoogleMaps: “Hetypedhisaddressintothesearchbarwithoutlookingup.Yeah,hesaid.Theyhavemeonreallyrandomshiftsthisweek.Hehandedherbackthephonetoshowhertheaddress:16OceanRise.Thescreendisplayedanetworkofwhitestreetsonabackgroundofgrey,besideabluearearepresentingthesea.” Andthatisjustthebeginningofthebook.Thisgoesonforhundredsofpagesuntilbytheendyoufeelmostlydesensitized—butformethatdidnothappensoonenoughtotranslateintoenjoyment.Whyohwhywouldyoupurposefullysubjectyourreaderstopointlessdescriptionandmonotonousstep-by-stepdetailingofeverything?Moreunderspoilertag: (viewspoiler)[“Squintingatthescreenofherphone,shetappedtheiconofasocialmediaapp.Theinterfaceopenedanddisplayedaloadingsymbol.”Andthatloadingsymbolisclearlyveryimportantforthisstory.Ofcourseitneedspagespace.“Aftertheyhungup,shepluggedachargingcableintoherphoneandswitchedoffthebedsidelight.Theartificialorangeglowofurbanlightpollutionpermeatedthethincurtainsofherbedroomwindow.Withhereyesstillopen,shetouchedherselfforaminuteandahalf*,camenoiselessly,andthenturnedoveronhersidetogotosleep.”*I’mgladitwas*exactly*aminuteandahalfofmasturbation,notaminuteortwoorthree.“DidFelixfindheranswersinteresting,orwashebored?Washethinkingabouther,oraboutsomethingelse,someoneelse?Andonstage,speakingaboutherbooks,wasAlicethinkingabouthim?Didheexistforherinthatmoment,andifso,inwhatway?”Idon’tknow,youtellmeoratleastshowme—orIguessyoucanposethequestionstomakethejobsofallthebookclubseventuallydiscussingthisstoryeasier.(hidespoiler)] AndthenwehavethoseemailinterludesbetweenAliceandEileenwherewegetasmatteringonopinionsandmusingsonconsumerism,politics,sexuality,identity,capitalism,religion,beautyandmeaningoflife.Theyseemtobechaptersinalongeressayinterspersedamongthebanalscenesinthenovel,contrastingwiththesurroundingchaptersinawaythatwasbecominggratingofdistracting. “AttimesIthinkofhumanrelationshipsassomethingsoftlikesandorwater,andbypouringthemintoparticularvesselswegivethemshape.Soamother’srelationshipwithherdaughterispouredintoavesselmarked‘motherandchild’,andtherelationshiptakesthecontoursofitscontainerandisheldinsidethere,forbetterorworse.Maybesomeunhappyfriendswouldhavebeenperfectlycontentedassisters,ormarriedcouplesasparentsandchildren,whoknows.Butwhatwoulditbeliketoformarelationshipwithnopreordainedshapeofanykind?Justtopourthewateroutandletitfall.Isupposeitwouldtakenoshape,andrunoffinalldirections.” ————AndthenIcameacrossthispassagethatmademethinkthatRooneyisjustdeliberatelyf*ckingwiththereaders: “Whocancare,inshort,whathappenstothenovel’sprotagonists,whenit’shappeninginthecontextoftheincreasinglyfast,increasinglybrutalexploitationofamajorityofthehumanspecies?” Ummm,Ms.Rooney?Ido.Icare.Theworldsucksandwearedoomingtheplanet,butyouputprotagonistsinabookandIcareabouttheirfictionallives.That’smyproblemasareader.Icaredespitetheworldwelivein. ————Idon’thavemuchtosayaboutthecharacters,evenafterpagesandpagesandpages.AliceandFelixperplexedandboredmesinceIhavenoideawhatinhimwouldbeattractivetoher,nowhyshewouldbecontentofengaginginhumiliationthatheseemstofrustratinglydumpalloverher.Idon’tgettheoverlymonotonousanddetailedsexscenesthatwerenothingbutawkward—seriously,fadetoblackoncetosparemetheeyerolling!Awkward!EileenandSimonweremarginallylesscringe-inducing(minusallthoseawkwarddetailedsexscenes,ofcourse—becausegodforbidRooneyskipsadetailanywhere!).Butatleastthosetwodidnotmakemewanttogaugemyeyesoutwithaspoon.Exceptforthis—“Canwe?sheasked.Hesaidyes.Theytooktheirunderwearoff.I’llgetacondom,hesaid.Shetoldhimshewasonthepill,andheseemedtohesitate”—becauseyouknowtheguyissleepingwithanotherwomanwho’ssleepingwithotherpeopleandchlamydiaisnotstopedbybirthcontrolpills.(viewspoiler)[Andintheendwegetmoreofthesame-“Idon’thaveacondom,hesaid.Shetoldhimitwasokay.Thensheadded:Aslongasyou’renothavingunprotectedsexwithanyoneelse.”—buthowaboutallthatunprotectedsexhe’salreadyhad???(hidespoiler)]Buttheirromanticstruggleswerehardtobuy—EileenandSimonclearlyneededtobetogetherafterthefirstfewpages,whileAliceandFelixreallyhadnothingkeepingthemtogether.Theyshouldnothavehadsimilartrajectoriesofpushandpullandeventualhappyending—thesymmetryoftheirlovestoriesisunearned. “Maybewe’rejustborntoloveandworryaboutthepeopleweknow,andtogoonlovingandworryingevenwhentherearemoreimportantthingsweshouldbedoing.Andifthatmeansthehumanspeciesisgoingtodieout,isn’titinawayanicereasontodieout,thenicestreasonyoucanimagine?Becausewhenweshouldhavebeenreorganisingthedistributionoftheworld’sresourcesandtransitioningcollectivelytoasustainableeconomicmodel,wewereworryingaboutsexandfriendshipinstead.Becausewelovedeachothertoomuchandfoundeachothertoointeresting.AndIlovethatabouthumanity,andinfactit’stheveryreasonIrootforustosurvive—becausewearesostupidabouteachother.” Eventuallysomewhereatthe2/3rdsmark(theweddingscene)thewritingstyleimprovesabit,withdetailoverloadlesseningandsomelifebreathedintothedeadpanlist-filledprosebyfinallyallowingusintothecharactersheadsinsteadofjustobservingtheiractionsinminutedetails(ormaybeitstayedthesamebutbookStockholmSyndromehadkickedin)—butalthoughlesscringeworthy,itdidnotleavememuchtimetoforgeanyconnectionstoanyoneoranythinginthebook.Yes,thereweremomentswhereIfeltthat“aha!”connection,butonlybrieflyandfartoorarely.Andeventhesweetendingstillfeltbanalandunmovingtome.AndIwasleftwiththatvaguelydissatisfiedfeelingattheend.ThefeelingthatIreadsomethingthatdidnotstrikeachordwithmealthoughitshouldhavehad.Theirritationattheneedlesslackofdialoguetags.Theweirdpompousnessoftheemailssectionsdostartingwiththebanalityofmundanedetails.Thelingeringcringenessofvoyeristicallyawkwardsexscenes.Themostlyuninterestingcharacters.Theoverloadofphilosophythatcallsforalcohol-fueledstudentgathering.Meh.Leftmemostlycold.2stars.["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]> ...more flag 392likes · Like  · seereview Viewall103comments SheilaBarton Ifelttheexactsame.Thankyouforyourreview Dec29,202104:25AM · flag Nataliya Sheilawrote:"Ifelttheexactsame.Thankyouforyourreview"Youarewelcome! Sheilawrote:"Ifelttheexactsame.Thankyouforyourreview"Youarewelcome! ...more Dec29,202108:19AM · flag Oct05,2021 Lauren ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: favorites, 2021-favs 5/5butyouallknewthatassoonasiopenedthecover flag 385likes · Like  · seereview View1comment Sep06,2021 Marchpane ratedit likedit Shelves: read-in-2021, book-club, 2021-releases PeoplehavefeelingsaboutSallyRooney—strongfeelings—inawaytheyjustdon’taboutotherwriters.Theoversaturationofpositiveattentionitselfgeneratesnegativeresponses,rangingfromthemildlybaffled‘whythehype?’totheexasperated‘canIjuststophearingaboutSallyRooneyforfiveseconds!’.Forme,ConversationswithFriendswasgood,butnotbrilliant.NormalPeopleIloved(anynovelthatcanmakemeuglycryhasearnedits5stars).TheTVadaptationofNormalPeopleIsuper PeoplehavefeelingsaboutSallyRooney—strongfeelings—inawaytheyjustdon’taboutotherwriters.Theoversaturationofpositiveattentionitselfgeneratesnegativeresponses,rangingfromthemildlybaffled‘whythehype?’totheexasperated‘canIjuststophearingaboutSallyRooneyforfiveseconds!’.Forme,ConversationswithFriendswasgood,butnotbrilliant.NormalPeopleIloved(anynovelthatcanmakemeuglycryhasearnedits5stars).TheTVadaptationofNormalPeopleIsuperloved,andRooneydeservesduecreditforthattoo.Thisisalong-windedwayofsayingthatinthepolarisedworldofRooney-commentary,I’mnotreallyoneitherteam.Iwasn’tpredisposedtofeelanykindofwayaboutBeautifulWorld,WhereAreYou.Asitturnsout,Ididn’tcareforthisonemuch,butI’malmostloathtocriticisebecauseofhowpersonalRooneygetshere—aboutthedissociativeeffectofsuddenfame,thespuriousvalueofwritingaboutherownlife:‘Ifnovelistswrotehonestlyabouttheirownlives,noonewouldreadnovels—andquiterightly!Maybethenwewouldfinallyhavetoconfronthowwrong,howdeeplyphilosophicallywrong,thecurrentsystemofliteraryproductionreallyis—howittakeswritersawayfromnormallife,shutsthedoorbehindthem,andtellsthemagainandagainhowspecialtheyareandhowimportanttheiropinionsmustbe.’RooneyisnowthreenovelsdeepinwhatappearstobeaprojecttoupdatetheAusten-stylemarriageplotforthe21stcentury.Herstoriesdon’thingeontheactuallegalinstitutionofmarriage,butratherthe‘lovematch’thatwasAusten’sstaple.Ithinkit’spartofRooney’senigmathatshemanagestobewildlypopularfordoingsomethingsoseeminglyunfashionable.Forsuchstoriestowork,youneedexemplarycharacterisation.Asareader,youwanttobeinvestedintheoutcomeandforthatthecharactershavetoseemreal.It’sfineforthemtobeunlikeable;it’saproblemwhentheyareunconvincinganduninteresting,andthatwasmymainissuewithBWWAY.Threeseparatenarrators—athirdpersonobjectivePOV;Alice(viaemails);andEileen(alsoviaemails)—allwritewiththesamehyper-observant,analytical,detail-orientedstyle.Thecharactersallspeakinthesamefaux-profound,excessivelycandidway,divulgingtheirdeepesttruthstonearstrangers,whilealsobeingcompletelyineptaboutexpressingtheirromanticfeelings(asnecessarytodefertheplot’sresolution).Noneofitringstrue.Therearemomentsofbrillianceinthewriting.Iparticularlylikedacross-cuttingor‘splitscreen’effectemployedbyRooneytonarratetwoseparatestrandsofactionhappeningconcurrently.Butwithoutthatall-importantconnectiontothecharacters,Iwasneverfullydrawnin.Ofthethree,thisistheRooneynovelI'veenjoyedtheleast. ...more flag 322likes · Like  · seereview Viewall42comments Aug29,2021 EoinMulligan ratedit didnotlikeit wheniwasdiagnosedwithcovidithoughtthatbeingisolatedtomybedroomfortwoweekswasthemostboringthingintheworld-SallyRooneyhasnowprovenmewrong. flag 310likes · Like  · seereview Viewall15comments KristenClaiborn ThisisashonestI'veseensofar. ThisisashonestI'veseensofar. ...more Dec21,202101:57PM · flag FionaH Hopefullyyoudidn'thavebothatthesametime. Hopefullyyoudidn'thavebothatthesametime. ...more Dec28,202112:53PM · flag Sep07,2021 s.penkevich ratedit reallylikedit Shelves: relationships, society, rooney *Winnerofthe2021GoodreadsChoiceAward!*‘Aslongasyoubothlivetheworldwillbebeautifultome.’ThereleaseofSallyRooney’sBeautifulWorld,WhereAreYouisabouttobealiteraryeventfor2021.NotonlywithmanypeopleclamoringformoreRooney,butforthediscussionsthisnovelisboundtospark.TakingitstitlefromaFriedrichSchillerpoem,thebookfollowsfourcharacters—Alice,Eileen,FelixandSimon—astheymuddletheirwaythroughtheirlate20s/early30slookingforbe *Winnerofthe2021GoodreadsChoiceAward!*‘Aslongasyoubothlivetheworldwillbebeautifultome.’ThereleaseofSallyRooney’sBeautifulWorld,WhereAreYouisabouttobealiteraryeventfor2021.NotonlywithmanypeopleclamoringformoreRooney,butforthediscussionsthisnovelisboundtospark.TakingitstitlefromaFriedrichSchillerpoem,thebookfollowsfourcharacters—Alice,Eileen,FelixandSimon—astheymuddletheirwaythroughtheirlate20s/early30slookingforbeautyinlifewhileinflictingthemselvesuponeachother.Thisisanovelofdiscoursecreatedthroughimperfectargumentsandopinionsbyflawedcharactersbecausetheworldisimperfectandpeopleareflawed.Itishermostponderousyetwithwill-they-won’t-theyrelationshiptensionthatserveslessasaplotdeviceand,ultimately,moreasanopportunityfordiscourseonsociety,gender,power,andthetimelessstruggleformeaninginlifeallwhileRooneygivesapassionatepleatolivewithforgiveness,understandingandlove.‘Whatisthesethingsjustriseandrecedenaturally,liketides,whilethemeaningofliferemainsthesamealways—justtoliveandbewithotherpeople?’Rooneytendstogarnerstrongopinionsaboutherworkswhichhavealsocrossedintocriticismoftheauthorherselfandthestateofmodernliteratureasweknowit.TherehavebeenfrequentarticlesfollowingherbooksdeclaringhertheharbingerofthedeclineoftheEnglishnovel,usuallyalsocitingZadieSmith,somethingthattendstooccurwhenanauthorfindsawaytowriteliteraryworksthatarealsoverypopular.Loveherorhateher,Rooneyisamajorfigureinthemodernliteraryscenewhich,Ifeel,issomethingthatbenefitsfrominclusionovergatekeeping.‘Aperfectexampleofo]urshallowandself-congratulatory‘bookculture,’Alicewriteslateinthenovel,‘inwhichnon-readersareshunnedasmorallyandintellectuallyinferior,andthemorebooksyouread,thesmarterandbetteryouarethaneveryoneelse.’Ithinkthiscouldextendto‘types’orreaders,andsomethingIthinkisimportant,particularlyinLibrarianship,istoacknowledgethatnoteveryonereadsforthesamereasonandnotallbooksarewrittenforthesamepurposes.Rooneyisabletowriteliterarybooksthatappealtothosedrawnintovolatilerelationshipdramaandusetheserelationshipsasavesseltoexamineavastarrayofsocio-political,interpersonalandmentalhealthissues.Andshedoessoquitesuccessfully.InBWWY,Rooneyseemstoaddressmanyofhercriticsheadon,cleverlyvoicedthroughhertwoprotagonists,AliceandEileen.Thoughitisnotassimpleasthembeingmouth-piecesfortheauthorandanearlystatementfromAlice,apopularnovelistwithacircleofharshcriticsthatseemtohavebeenemboldenedtodislikeherduetoearly,glowingreviewsaboutherbooks(soundfamiliar?)remindsusnottomaketheintentionalfallacyandassumeallstatementsare100%theAuthor.Depictionnotnecessarilybeingendorsementandallthatdiscourse.Yetitstillfeelspointedattheolder[whitemale]criticswhenEileentheorizes‘rememberingisweakerthanexperiencing…middle-agedpeoplealwaysthinktheirthoughtsandfeelingsaremoreimportantthanthoseofyoungpeople.’ManyoftheargumentsputforthbyAlicetendtocomeacrossasdefensive,andsaysmodernfictionsuppressesreallifebecauseshebelievestheythink‘toputthefactofthatpoverty,thatmisery,sidebysidewiththe‘maincharacters’ofanovel,wouldbedeemedeithertastelessorsimplyartisticallyunsuccessful,’itfeelslikeignoringawealthoffictionthatalreadyexistexploringthemesofpovertyandthepoliticalquitesuccessfully.Thismayserve,however,asanexampleofthe‘moralsuperiority’Felixaccusesherofhaving(womentendtofacefarmorecriticismsfortheirbehaviorthanthemenhere),whichbecomesamajorthemeinthenovel.OrI’mbeinggenerous,butIpredictthispassagewillbefrequentlyusedinmanycriticsassessmentofthebook).Whatdrivesthisnovelisthedialoguingthatoccurs,throughwhichRooneytossesupalotofconflictingphilosophizinganddisagreementbetweencharactersandlet’sthemhashitout.Thisworkstothenovelsfavor,andRooneyisamasteratdialoguethatfeelsreal,completewithhumorandsharpjabssuchaswhenElieentextsSimon‘Whydomenover30textlikethey’reupdatingaLinkedInprofile?’HalfofthenovelisepistolarywithAliceandEileenexchangingemailsthatfollowtherotatingnarrativesaboutthemintheirseparateworldswhereRooneygivesherselftheopportunitytohavethemdiscussatlengtheverythingfromcapitalismandclimatecrisistothedownfalloftheLateBronzeAge.It’safuntechniqueandmayseemheavyhandedbutoneonlyneedtoreadtheemailsofanyEnglishmajortotheirbestfriendtosee,ohyea,wereallydothat(Iapologizetoanyonewhohaseverhadanemailfromme).Itmightbenitpicking,butthereisn'tmuchattempttoatcraftingtwodifferentvoicesbetweenAliceandEileenhere.'InmydeepestessenceIamjustanartefactofourculture,justalittlebubblewinkingatthebrimofourcivilization.'Theauthorialvoiceisinterestinginthisregard,beinghighlytexturedandmovingfromaratherdistantthird-personaccountthatrarelyentersthecharactersmindsandletsussimplywatch,tohighlypersonalemails.Sheexcelsatpacing,speedinguporslowingdowntohighlightdetailslikeafinelytunedmachineprogrammedformaximumplottensionandexpositionrevelation.Occasionallythe3rdPOVseemsintentionallyelusive,likeAlicetellingFelix‘aboutafriendnamedEileen’longafterweknowwhoEileeniswhichservestoremindusofthedistancebetweenlivesevenamongfriends.Thedistanceofthenarrationallowsusonlytoobserve,neverbeintheirminds,furtheringthethemethatasksuswhywejudgepeoplewithoutactuallyreallyknowingtheminside.Thecharactersmaybefrustrating,buttheyaretheirownpeoplewithprivatelivesand'you'llonlydriveyourselfcrazytryingtomakethemactthewayyouwant.'SectionsthatnarratewhatFelixisdoingalongsidewhatAliceisdoingoftenareusedtoshowthecontrastbetweensocialclasses,withSimonworkinglonghourswarehousewhileAlicedrinksteaandchecksemails.ItalmostmockstheimportanceartistsplaceonartasweknowAliceisamillionaireandSimonisindebt,somethingRooneyfurtherswhenshesaysfamousauthorsarelessconcernedwithlifeandmore‘obsessedwithwhethertheirlatestbookwillbereviewedinTheNewYorkTimes.’Rooneyhasfireinthisbookandlotsofblowstendtolandonthepublishingindustryandagainstidolizationculture.‘LikeAliceinhermoralphilosophy,shewascaughtbetweentwopositions.Maybeeveryonewas,ineverythingthatmattered.’Inarecentessay,BrandonTaylortalksaboutmoralfictionassomethingthat‘isnotideologicallypreciousorrigid—itsimplyportraysthecomplexitiesofwhatitistomovethroughtheworldwiththatever-evokedethicoftheonline:nuance.’Nuanceaboundshereandnotopicwalksawayunscathed.ArgumentsensueandRooneyhascreatedaspacetoexploremultipleanglesoftopicswithouthavingtopasssomeauthorialjudgementontheopinions,leavingthereadertodecideforthemselves.InadiscussiononMarxism,onecharacteropinesthatidentityismerelythelatestfashionafteranothersaysbeingworkingclassisn’tafashionstatementbutanidentity(remindingEileenoftheironyshedrivesherparentsBMWcallingherselfaMarxist).Thereareargumentsoverifbeautycanexistinacosmeticworld,ifitisethicalforSimonat30todatewomen10yearshisjunior(recallingtherelationshipandpower-dynamicsofsexfromConversationswithFriends).Taylorwarnsagainstliteratureflatteningmoralstoa‘Twitterfiedsetofethics’andthewaythisbookwilllikelyraiseeyebrowsoverideasasabigpartofitstheme.Centraltothisbookisthenotionofmoralsuperiority,somethingthatseemsprevalentinouronlineculture.‘Wehatepeopleformakingmistakessomuchmorethanwelovethemfordoinggood,’Alicewrites,‘thattheeasiestwaytoliveistodonothing,saynothing,andlovenoone.’Whatinitiallyfeelslikeatiredcomplaintabout‘cancelculture’turnsintosomethingmuchmoreinterestingaboutpassingjudgementonothers,particularlyasAliceistheonewhofacesmostaccusationsofactingmorallysuperiortoothers.Byallowingthereadertomakeuptheirmindaboutthecharacters,Rooneyasksuswhatlegwehavetostandoninjudgingthem.‘Whatifitsallofus,’Aliceaskswhenconsideringwhohasdoneharmtoothers.ThereisacertainCatholicaspecttohernovels,suchasSimonbeingtheonlychurchgoingmemberofthebookbutheissetupasifhewereaDostoevskyvillaingroomingEileensinceshewas15(muchlikeLuzhininCrimeandPunishmentheusesbeingahippoliticalfigureandhisvastbankaccountasameanstohavesexualaccesstomanyyoungwomen,notunlikeNickinConversationusinghisyouth-passinggoodlookstohaveanaffairwithaUniversitystudent).WhileideasofpurityandCatholicguiltkeptConnellfromsexuallypleasingMarianneinaroughwayasshewishedinNormalPeople,hereRooneyasksifwehavecreatedanewsetofmoralpuritydemandsthroughonlineculturethathastakenawayourmeansforforgivenessandseparatespeopleinsteadofcommunitybuilding.Thisaspectofthenovelissuretosparkdebate,especiallywhenmanyoftheexamplesusedtendtobesexual.ThisallleadstoanexaminationofwhatitmeansfromtheBiblicalstoryofthesinnerwomanwashingJesus’feetasamessageofultimateforgiveness.Charactersdiscusshow,asatheists,whydotheyplacesomuchemphasisontherebeingnodivinemoralityandthenstilldemandamoralpurityfromothers.Rooneyalsodiscussesthisinthewaywetreatcelebrities,howpeoplewillpassjudgementonanauthorwithouteverknowingthem,confusing‘someone’snametheyknowwithsomeonetheyknow.’WhileI’veseenthissameBiblicalpassageweaponizedinUSreligiousculturetoprotectthepowerfulfromconsequences,IseewhatRooneyisgettingatandwhileitisimperfect,soislife.Alsoperhapsthisisadepictionofthe‘hottakeculture’ofsocialmedia?ThoughIwouldpreferthefocustobeonthosewhohavebeenharmedratherthanworryingaboutthefeelingsofthosewhoharm,Isupposeherpointisthateveryonehascomplexemotions.Acommoncomplaintofherbooksisthatthecharactersareunlikable,thoughIfeellikelikingthemisnotthepurposebutratherunderstandinghowtheyself-justifyandseeingthewaytheiractionsaffectoneanother.Weareallsearchingforabeautifulworld.Butcanweevenknowwhatbeautymeansinaworldthatsubstitutesthetermforcosmetics,asEileenpointsout?Havewefilledtheworldwithuglyfauxmeaning,supplantingpurposewithmarketing?Hastheuseofplasticdistortedwhatwecanevenpossiblyunderstandaboutbeauty(Eileenagain),andinacapitalistworldthatonlyvaluesprofithowmuchcanindividualpurposeevenmatter.IfEileendoesn'tmakeasmuchmoneyasAliceorhersister,isherjoblessmeaningful?Thisisthelandscapeacrosswhichthefriendsnavigatetheirrelationshipwoesontheirquestforabeautifulworld.Rooneypitchesthat,perhaps,it'saboutbeingthankfulforwhatwehave,andcontentwiththelovewefind.‘Aslifeinitsordinarinessandevenuglyvulgarityimposeditselfeverywherearoundthem...weretheysomehowinvulnerableto,untouchedby,vulgarityandugliness,glancingforamomentintosomethingdeeper,somethingconcealedbeneaththesurfaceoflife,notun-realitybutahiddenreality:thepresenceatalltimes,inallplaces,ofabeautifulworld?’Ifyouhaven'tnoticed,thisbookissortofmessyinthemostgloriouswaypossible.Itisnotplotdrivenandsortofslowlymovesaroundfromideatoideaanddoessosuccessfully.Itfeelsabitbloatedattimesandperhapsthisisacombinationofapublisheraskforalargerpagecounttojustifya$28hardcoverandRooneyhavingprovenherselfenoughthataneditorisn’tgoingtocutcontent(justspitballinghere),butthisisn’tadetrimentalthoughitdoesn’tfeelastightasherpreviousbooks.Infact,Isortofpreferitthiswayandeachsceneandideaisgivenroomtobreathandspiralaroundwiththeothers,returningfromtimetotimetosolidifyherpoints.Thenovelultimatelybecomesabitoverlyawill-they,won’t-they,butRooneyremindsusthisisn’tthepoint.‘Dotheprotagonistsbreakuporstaytogether?Inthisworld,whatdoesitmatter?’Alicewrites,‘wecancare…ifandonlyifwehavesuccessfullyforgottenaboutallthethingsmoreimportantthanthat,i.e.everything.’Thefriendshipplotwasmoreinterestingtomethanthecoupling,butIseethepurposeofitsdraw.Rooneyhasmaturedasanauthorandhastakenonaboldanddauntingtaskofincorporatingallherthemesintoabignovelonsocialrelationsusingherfourcharactersasamicrocosmand,forthemostpart,pullsitoff.AftermorepeoplereadthisI'dliketocomebackandtalkaboutmorespecificaspects,butfornow,enjoythisbook.IsuspectBeautifulWorld,WhereAreYou?'willbethesubjectofmanyarticlescomingfrommanystronglyheldbeliefs,andthatisexactlywhatRooneyhassetouttodo.3.5/5'It'sstillbettertolovesomethingthannothing,bettertolovesomeonethannoone,andI'mhere,livingintheworld,notwishingforamomentthatiwasn't.' ...more flag 307likes · Like  · seereview Viewall80comments Sep08,2021 ElyseWalters ratedit likedit Shelves: coming-of-age, family-relationships Update:Wow!!!Rooneywon’t‘allow’thisnovel-her3rdtobetranslatedinHebrewbecauseshesupportsaculturalboycottinIsrael.Herpasttwobooks‘were’translatedinHebrew.ASADDISAPPOINTINGCHOICEIMO!!!I’mJewish.—Antisemitismhasbeenontheriseinrecentyears—Learningthisinformation-hasadisturbingdivideaspectthatIfeelissooooounnecessary-ThisisaBOOK—aliterarycontemporarynovel.ThepartsofthisnovelthatIwasn’tenthralledwith—comesfromthesamec Update:Wow!!!Rooneywon’t‘allow’thisnovel-her3rdtobetranslatedinHebrewbecauseshesupportsaculturalboycottinIsrael.Herpasttwobooks‘were’translatedinHebrew.ASADDISAPPOINTINGCHOICEIMO!!!I’mJewish.—Antisemitismhasbeenontheriseinrecentyears—Learningthisinformation-hasadisturbingdivideaspectthatIfeelissooooounnecessary-ThisisaBOOK—aliterarycontemporarynovel.ThepartsofthisnovelthatIwasn’tenthralledwith—comesfromthesamecoreplacethatdoesn’tenthralledmetolearnthisinformationaboutRooney.Shehastheright-I’mjustNOTAFANOFHERSTAND!Readable…….butdisappointing.Forme,Ifeltthisnovelwastrite,uninspiring,andlackingindepthoftheverytopicwhichwasattheheartofthematter.2.5-it’sastretchformetogiveitthreestars…butI’mstillthinkingaboutitandtherearethingsI’dliketodiscusswithothers—sothreestarsitis. ...more flag 301likes · Like  · seereview Viewall69comments Karen Thanksforyourreview.I’mhavingsuchahardtimereviewingthisone.Iappreciateyourinsightintoherpoliticalviewsandactions.Iwashavingt Thanksforyourreview.I’mhavingsuchahardtimereviewingthisone.Iappreciateyourinsightintoherpoliticalviewsandactions.IwashavingtroublebeforeIknewherstanceonIsraelandPalestinian.Itwasveryreadablebutthestoryandcharactersweresohardtocareabout. ...more Dec18,202104:01AM · flag ScrappyMags Iwillneverunderstandhowwhenyoudon’tagreewithanIsraelipolicyyouarelabeledananti-Semite.IreadtheLitHubarticleaboutthisandmany Iwillneverunderstandhowwhenyoudon’tagreewithanIsraelipolicyyouarelabeledananti-Semite.IreadtheLitHubarticleaboutthisandmanypeoplehavelegitreasons(liketheHumanRightsWatchreportonthis)nottosupportIsraelipolicy,toquestionit,etc.🤷🏼‍♀️Herbook,herright,doesn’tmeanshehatesJewishpeople. ...more 12hours,0minago · flag Sep28,2021 Paromjit ratedit itwasok Shelves: contemporary-fiction IamwellawarethattheIrishwriterSallyRooneyhaslegionsoffans,althoughthehypeforthisnovelfeelsratheroverblown.ThisisoneofthosereviewsthatIamuncomfortablewriting,Iknowmanyreaderslovedthis,Ijustdidn'tconnectwithit.It'snotthatIhatedit,it'smorethatIwasindifferent,tothecharactersofthesuccessfulwriter,Alice,herbestfriend,Eileen,warehousepacker,FelixandSimon,therelationshipsandinteractionswitheachother.Tome,theycameacross IamwellawarethattheIrishwriterSallyRooneyhaslegionsoffans,althoughthehypeforthisnovelfeelsratheroverblown.ThisisoneofthosereviewsthatIamuncomfortablewriting,Iknowmanyreaderslovedthis,Ijustdidn'tconnectwithit.It'snotthatIhatedit,it'smorethatIwasindifferent,tothecharactersofthesuccessfulwriter,Alice,herbestfriend,Eileen,warehousepacker,FelixandSimon,therelationshipsandinteractionswitheachother.Tome,theycameacrossasmedicated,labouredandlabouring,masqueradingasrealpeople,withlittledepth.Isuspectmyresponsetothisnovelcomesfromhavingreadsuchexquisiteandmoreimpactfulbooksrecently,suchasTheLoveSongsofWEBDuBoisbyHonoreeFanonneJeffers.Iwouldsuggestthatreadersreadotherfarmorepositivereviewsbeforemakingthedecisiontoreadthis,itmaywellbethatIamjustnotthetargetaudienceforthisnovel. ...more flag 252likes · Like  · seereview Viewall50comments Paromjit Michellewrote:"*my30yearself(Idon’thavea30yearoldchild!)"Michellewrote:"Couldn’tagreemore.Andlikeyou,I’mawarethatI’mnotthet Michellewrote:"*my30yearself(Idon’thavea30yearoldchild!)"Michellewrote:"Couldn’tagreemore.Andlikeyou,I’mawarethatI’mnotthetargetaudience.My30yearoldwouldperhapshaveappreciateditmore,Idon’tknow,butthecharacterswouldstillhavebeenblandan..."Thanks,Michelle…….appreciatedyourcomments!:) ...more Dec23,202104:44AM · flag Ceecee SorryImissedthisreviewasI’mwithyou!I’mreallystrugglingtofinishit!GreatreviewParomjit❤️🌺❤️ 8hours,40minago · flag Oct21,2021 Candi ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: romance, contemporary-literary, favorites, book-i-own “Whatifthemeaningoflifeonearthisnoteternalprogresstowardsomeunspecifiedgoal—theengineeringandproductionofmoreandmorepowerfultechnologies,thedevelopmentofmoreandmorecomplexandabstruseculturalforms?Whatifthesethingsjustriseandrecedenaturally,liketides,whilethemeaningofliferemainsthesamealways—justtoliveandbewithotherpeople?”Sometimes,wheneverythinghappeningaroundmemakesnosensewhatsoever,IthinkthatperhapsI’mtryingtoohard “Whatifthemeaningoflifeonearthisnoteternalprogresstowardsomeunspecifiedgoal—theengineeringandproductionofmoreandmorepowerfultechnologies,thedevelopmentofmoreandmorecomplexandabstruseculturalforms?Whatifthesethingsjustriseandrecedenaturally,liketides,whilethemeaningofliferemainsthesamealways—justtoliveandbewithotherpeople?”Sometimes,wheneverythinghappeningaroundmemakesnosensewhatsoever,IthinkthatperhapsI’mtryingtoohardtomakeheadsortailsofitall.Maybeitreallyissomethingverysimpleafterall,whenitcomesdowntoit.Don’twealwayscomebacktothesamethingallthetime?Civilizationsriseandfall,waranddevastationoccur,butthepeoplestillremain.Westillgoonsomehow.Why?Somedesirepower,fameandmoney;somecouldcareless.Butthecommondenominatorofhumanityisloveandfriendship.Wewanttobeseenandheardonsomepersonallevelbyanotherhumanbeing.“Althoughourliveshavebeendifferentinbasicallyeveryrespect,Idofeelinastrangewaythatwe’vetakendifferentroutestoreachsimilarpoints,andthere’salotwerecogniseinoneanother.”Idon’ttendtojumpatthehottesttrendsincontemporaryliterature.Ialsodon’tstayawayfromthemjustforthesakeofdoingso.Somethinghastoreallycatchmyeyetomakemewanttoreadit.Thenitdoesn’tmatterwhatyournameis–whetherhighlyrenownedorrelativelyobscure.IfI’mcurious,thecuriosityhastobesatisfied.That’swhathappenedherewithSallyRooney.Iwasaweebitinterestedinherearlierbooks,buthadn’tgottenaroundtoreadingthemquiteyet.ThenIsawthetitleofthisone.Yep,justthetitle.That’sallittook.Maybeitsoundsabittrite,butBeautifulWorld,WhereAreYousoundedawholelotlikeaquestionI’vebeenaskingmyselflately!AndthenIheardthatpartofthestructureofthisnovelinvolvesaseriesoflongemailsbetweentwofriends.IknewthenIhadtoreadit!Ilovereadingandwritinglongemails.Therearen’tmanyfriendsthatwillobligesuchsillyinclinationslikethis,butthereexistacoupleofdearenablersthatwillnotonlytoleratesuchramblings,butreturnthepleasureaswell.“Youshouldknowthatourcorrespondenceismywayofholdingontolife,takingnotesonit,andtherebypreservingsomethingofmy—otherwisealmostworthless,orevenentirelyworthless—existenceonthisrapidlydegeneratingplane…”SallyRooney,Iwanttokissyou!!Ifellinlovewiththisbook!Sheknowspeople.Sheknowsthatsomeofusareunlikable;wehavefaults,indulgeinselfishness,andharborinnerturmoil.Andyet,thereissomethingineachoneofusthatwantstobeseenandheard,andloved.Wealldeserveitdespiteourshortcomings,don’twe?Alice,Eileen,SimonandFelix.Idon’tknow.Theyfeltsorealtome.Ibroughtthemalongwithmeonalittleweekendgetaway.Ireadabouttheiragonies,theirdesires,theirlittleobsessivethoughts.Ifellasleepwiththemonmymind.I’mnotamirrorimageofanyoneofthem.ButIcouldeasilysaythattherewasapieceofeachofthemthatIrecognizedinmyself.Whetheritwasgoodorbad,well,whatcanIsay?Theagegapdidn’tmattertomeonebit.Iwasthatageonce.Abitofmyformerselfisstillapartofmenow.ItmademewhoIam,sowhydismissit?“Maybecertainkindsofpain,atcertainformativestagesinlife,justimpressthemselvesintoaperson’ssenseofselfpermanently.”Thedialoguewashugelyengaging.Thesexwasawkwardbutinawhollyrealisticway.Isensedtwopeopletryingtofigureouthowtobewithoneanother,notsomeperfectlystagedscenebetweenlovers.Insecuritiesandallthatmessystuffgetinthewayalotofthetime.Yet,howcanIdescribehowIfeltwhilereadingthis?I’llspareyoutheintimatedetailsofhowIfelt…BesttoletRooney’swordsexplainabitfurther.“Ourwaysofthinkingandspeakingaboutsexualityseemsolimited,comparedtotheexhaustinganddebilitatingpowerofsexualityitselfasweexperienceitinourreallives.”There’sawholelottothisnovel.I’monlyscratchingthesurfacehere.Theemailsbetweentwobestfriends,AliceandEileen,allowRooneytooffersomeinterestingthoughtsonpolitics,theprocessofreadingandwriting,religion,sexuality,friendships,andloadsmore.Charactersaredisillusionedwithlife,butthreadsofhopeforthefutureareofferedinlittledoses.Thatis,afterall,howwemanagetoforgeaheaddayafterday.Idon’tknow,asmuchasweseemtobeapeopleengagedmostlywithourscreensandphones,Ithinkthattheyoungergenerationwillbringaboutsomemuchneededchange.Theyaretolerantofdifferences,passionateabouttheirbeliefs,andforward-thinking.Ibelieveweshouldlistentotheirfreshnewvoices,andIcountSallyRooney’samongthem.I’vealreadyboughtanotherofherbooksandplantolistentoeverythingshehastosaytousnow.Thisisgoingtobeoneofmyfavoritesoftheyear!“…weretheysomehowinvulnerableto,untouchedby,vulgarityandugliness,glancingforamomentintosomethingdeeper,somethingconcealedbeneaththesurfaceoflife,notunrealitybutahiddenreality:thepresenceatalltimes,inallplaces,ofabeautifulworld?” ...more flag 195likes · Like  · seereview Viewall107comments Oct01,2021 banana ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition howincrediblykinky.theworldisdecaying,ourpurposeismeaningless,lost,andinconsequential.mostofourfleetingexsistenceisspentquestioningandassigningmeaningtothingswedon'tunderstandbutfuckit!!iwantaboyfriend.iwanttogetfuckedwhilsttheworldbeginstorapidlyrotaroundus.thehilarityofthisbooktryingtograpplewithsuchcomplexconceptswhileremainingincrediblyvapidwasalmost,strangely,endearing.andtoanswerthequestionthatthetitleposes,it howincrediblykinky.theworldisdecaying,ourpurposeismeaningless,lost,andinconsequential.mostofourfleetingexsistenceisspentquestioningandassigningmeaningtothingswedon'tunderstandbutfuckit!!iwantaboyfriend.iwanttogetfuckedwhilsttheworldbeginstorapidlyrotaroundus.thehilarityofthisbooktryingtograpplewithsuchcomplexconceptswhileremainingincrediblyvapidwasalmost,strangely,endearing.andtoanswerthequestionthatthetitleposes,ithinkthebeautifulworldisinus.inourloveforeachother,inourpassion,inourcontinuationofthisstrange,frustratingthingwecalllife. ...more flag 187likes · Like  · seereview Sep07,2021 Peter ratedit reallylikedit Shelves: literary-fiction, contemporary-fiction AwarenessThereisanimmersiveobservationalskillRooneyhaswithhercharactersandtheirrelationships.Coupledwithherbeautifulanduniquewritingstyle,BeautifulWorld,WhereAreYouisanothercaptivatingnovelforfansofSallyRooney.Ioftenfeelfrustratedfollowinghercharactersandtheirrelationships,wonderingwhytheydon’tjustsaywhattheymeaninsteadofmakingrelationshipsmorecomplicated.Whydoesthesuppressionoffeelings,misguidedorunintentionalexpressionoffe AwarenessThereisanimmersiveobservationalskillRooneyhaswithhercharactersandtheirrelationships.Coupledwithherbeautifulanduniquewritingstyle,BeautifulWorld,WhereAreYouisanothercaptivatingnovelforfansofSallyRooney.Ioftenfeelfrustratedfollowinghercharactersandtheirrelationships,wonderingwhytheydon’tjustsaywhattheymeaninsteadofmakingrelationshipsmorecomplicated.Whydoesthesuppressionoffeelings,misguidedorunintentionalexpressionoffeelingsforcerelationshipsdownapaththatseemsmoreandmoredifficulttoaddress?ThenIlookatrelationshipsinreallife,andIthink,boyohboy,SallyRooneyhasthistoatee.Wedon’tmakeperfectchoicesevenwithgoodintentions,andtheoldsaying“nogoodturngoesunpunished”leavesusquestioningwherethisbeautifulworldis?Aliceisasuccessfulauthorinourcontemporaryworld,andwecanimaginethatthismaybeasurrogateforSallyRooneyherself.AliceandherbestfriendEileencommunicateopenlyandin-depthviaemailthesedays.ThismechanismgivesRooneyanotherdevicetodelivercontemporaryconversationstobeobservedfromadistance.AliceisdatingFelix,andtheirrelationshipisflawed,buttheyarestillsearchingforhowtoconnectbetterwitheachother,wheredesireandoutcomeareoftenfarapart.Eileen’sotherchildhoodfriendisSimon,andtheyhaveunaddressedfeelingsabouteachother,andthatfriendorloverhurdleisoftentoohightojump.Theirdifficultyinexpressingtheirfeelingsleadstoacomplicatedandmisunderstoodrelationship.Rooneyhascraftedanotherwonderfulbookthatillustratesherdevelopmentasanauthorandthedevelopmentofhermorematurecharactersastheylookatissuesaffectingoursocietyandthemodernworld–climatechangeandthatpandemicmakeanappearance.Regardlessofthecomplexandoftendamagingeventsandchoiceswemake,isthisnotabeautifulworldwelivein?IreceivedanextractfromNetGalleyforthisbook,anditwasn’tenoughtowarrantaseriousreview,infact,anyreview–sothere.Feelingtotallymanipulated,Ipurchasedthebookonpublicationdayandreaditinonesitting-veryunusualforme.AswithNormalPeople,Icanseethedividedopinioncomingwiththisbook,butIwouldrecommendreadingitifyouareaSallyRooneyfanorneutrallikeme,butdon’tifyou’renot. ...more flag 177likes · Like  · seereview Viewall74comments Sep11,2021 LisaofTroy ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition BeautifulWorld,WhereAreYoufocusesontwowomen,AliceandEileen,whoarebestfriends.Theyareboth29andarestilltryingtofindtheirwayintheworld,primarilybyfindinglifefulfillmentbyengagingindatingrelationshipsandpursuingconversationsaboutpolitics(allthewhilenotactuallydoinganything).NeverreadingaSallyRooneybookbefore,IsawallofthehypeandhadseriousFOMOsoIpre-orderedacopy.Thebeginningofthebookwasquiteentertainingandfilledwiths BeautifulWorld,WhereAreYoufocusesontwowomen,AliceandEileen,whoarebestfriends.Theyareboth29andarestilltryingtofindtheirwayintheworld,primarilybyfindinglifefulfillmentbyengagingindatingrelationshipsandpursuingconversationsaboutpolitics(allthewhilenotactuallydoinganything).NeverreadingaSallyRooneybookbefore,IsawallofthehypeandhadseriousFOMOsoIpre-orderedacopy.Thebeginningofthebookwasquiteentertainingandfilledwithsharp,smartwittyhumor.However,ithadmoresteamyscenesthanerotica.Foralloftheprogressivetalk,thebookonlyfocusedontwoheterosexualrelationships.WhatexactlydidAliceseeinFelix?Whatabouthimwassogreat?Rooneyalsotriestoromanticizehavingunprotectedactivities,butHPVandTheClapdon'twashoffinthemorningespeciallywhenthecoupleengaginginsaidactivitiesarenotinanexclusiverelationship.Again,ifyouaregoingtoputforthabookaboutforwardthinking,thentheactionsshouldmatchthephilosophy.Also,thisbooksubscribedtooreadilytostereotypicalgenderroleswithmalesbeingtheproviders,andthewomenbeinghystericalandoverlyemotionalwholargelydon'tgetwhattheywantbecausetheywon'tarticulatetheirneeds.BeautifulWorldWhereAreYoudoestacklesomeoftheweightierissuesintheworldpresently.Withdatingmovingtotheonlineworld,therearenowinfinitechoices,andhowcanthedatersreallyknowiftheyareinacommittedrelationship?Whydocoupleswanttohavemorechildrenwiththepandemicuncertaintyaswellastheincreasingpollutionlevels?TherewasonepartofthebookthatconfusedmebecauseAlicewascomplainingabouthowsheisallaloneintheworldbeingafamousauthorandhowshehadnoonetoshowhertheway.Inthelasthalfofthebook,Alicespeaksabouthowshehasalloftheseauthorfriends.Nowwhichisit?Overall,BeautifulWorldWhereareYouwasanentertainingread.Ifyouhateeroticaorliberalideals,youwillwanttosteerclear. ...more flag 167likes · Like  · seereview Viewall25comments Aug22,2021 Sarah ratedit itwasok  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: fiction SomanybooksI'vebeenlookingforwardtothisyearwhichhavebeenbigdisappointments.Ihadsuchhighhopesforthisnovel,butitendedupbeingalongslogthatwentnowhere.Icouldn'tconnectwithorbelieveinanyofthecharacters(themalecharacterswereparticularlyundeveloped)andtheepistolarydevicedidn'tworkatall;itjustfeltlikeavehicleforRooneytomuseonpseudo-deepideas.SOmanypagesoftellinganddescribingtheactionsofcharactersandtheirphysicalmovement SomanybooksI'vebeenlookingforwardtothisyearwhichhavebeenbigdisappointments.Ihadsuchhighhopesforthisnovel,butitendedupbeingalongslogthatwentnowhere.Icouldn'tconnectwithorbelieveinanyofthecharacters(themalecharacterswereparticularlyundeveloped)andtheepistolarydevicedidn'tworkatall;itjustfeltlikeavehicleforRooneytomuseonpseudo-deepideas.SOmanypagesoftellinganddescribingtheactionsofcharactersandtheirphysicalmovements(almostasiftohelpguideafuturetv/filmadaptation)whichdidnothingtoforwardtheplot.Iamlookingforwardtohearingwhatotherreadersmakeofthis.Ifwe'remakingdirectcomparisonstoRooney'spreviousnovelsit'sdefinitelymorelikeConversationswithFriendsthanNormalPeopleinmyview:pretentiouspeoplestewingoverrelationshipswhichseemdoomed/notworthpursuingfromtheget-go.Thebookalsofeltveryauto-fictionaltome-theprotagonistAlicehaswrittentwobookswhichwereverysuccessful,oneofwhichhasbeenadaptedfortv/film-whichwasunexpectedbutalsodidn'treallycometoanythingbeyondusgettingaglimpseintothepsycheofareluctantlyfamousandprivateauthor. ...more flag 163likes · Like  · seereview Viewall12comments Jan12,2021 NomadicReader(BabaYaga) ratedit reallylikedit  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: 2021, salute-mentale, amazing-romance, the-gays-are-rising, she-is-not-feeling-good-at-all Homegirlreallywroteasmuttyromanceandfooledusallintothinkingshehadproducedthenextliterarymasterpiece.Trulyiconic.Alljokesaside,IreallydoadmireRooneyforsucceedinginwhathundredsofwritersbeforehercouldn'tdo:givefemale-focusederoticromancetheliterarystatusitsmaleequivalenthaslongbeengranted.GonearethedayswhenyouhadtohideyourHarlequinnovelinsideTheBrothersKaramazovforfearofbeingjudgedbyotherpassengersonpublictransport:now Homegirlreallywroteasmuttyromanceandfooledusallintothinkingshehadproducedthenextliterarymasterpiece.Trulyiconic.Alljokesaside,IreallydoadmireRooneyforsucceedinginwhathundredsofwritersbeforehercouldn'tdo:givefemale-focusederoticromancetheliterarystatusitsmaleequivalenthaslongbeengranted.GonearethedayswhenyouhadtohideyourHarlequinnovelinsideTheBrothersKaramazovforfearofbeingjudgedbyotherpassengersonpublictransport:nowyoucanreadthelatestSallyRooneyinbroaddaylightandevenpassforasophisticatedintellectual.Onesmallstepforanauthor,onegiantleapforpublishing. ...more flag 144likes · Like  · seereview Viewall8comments Aug23,2021 Maxwell ratedit likedit Shelves: owned, arc, ireland It'sbeenacoupleweekssinceIfinishedreadingthis,andnowthatit'soutintheworldforeveryonetoreadIfigureditwouldbeagoodtimetowriteupafullreview.IthinkI'veformedsomethoughtsonwhatIdidanddidnotlikeaboutitandwhyIfeellikeitdidn'tliveuptoRooney'sothernovelsforme.Thestoryprobablysoundsalotlikewhatyou'dexpectfromRooney.Agroupofyoungadults,inthiscaseabitolderthanherotherprotagonists(theirlate20s/early30s)livetheir It'sbeenacoupleweekssinceIfinishedreadingthis,andnowthatit'soutintheworldforeveryonetoreadIfigureditwouldbeagoodtimetowriteupafullreview.IthinkI'veformedsomethoughtsonwhatIdidanddidnotlikeaboutitandwhyIfeellikeitdidn'tliveuptoRooney'sothernovelsforme.Thestoryprobablysoundsalotlikewhatyou'dexpectfromRooney.Agroupofyoungadults,inthiscaseabitolderthanherotherprotagonists(theirlate20s/early30s)livetheirregularlivesinmodernIreland.ThereisAlice,asuccessfulauthorwhorecentlysufferedwithsomementalhealthissuesandhasmovedoutofDublinforatime.HerbestfriendisEileenwhoworksataliterarymagazineandfeelsabitinAlice'sshadow.AlicemeetsFelixonadatingappinhernewtown;heworksinpackaginggoodsinawarehouseforshipment.AndEileenconversesoftenwithSimon,achildhoodfriendwhoshemayormaynothavefeelingsfor.Allthroughoutthenovel,thechaptersgobackandforthbetweennarrativestorytellingandemailcorrespondencesbetweenAliceandEileen.Forme,thebestpartsweretheemailsandfriendshipthatwegottolearnaboutbetweenAliceandEileen.Ireallyenjoyedlearningaboutthemthroughthewaytheywritetooneanother.ThisalsoallowedRooneytodevelopsomedeeperthemesandpondertheminalmostessayform,astheemailsattimecanreadlikelittleessays.Shetouchesonmodernism,capitalism,consumerismandwaste,andlivingboldlyinaworldthatseemstobefallingapart.Theseareallthemesthathavebeenwrittenaboutbefore,andthoughSallydoessoquitepoignantly,itdidn'tnecessarilyfeeloriginalorgroundbreaking.Mybiggestissue,honestly,washowthesecharactersfelttome.Itrytogointoanybookwithempathyandnotjudgecharactersbeyondwhatweseeaboutthemonthepage.However,Ididnotcareaboutthesecharactersatall.Andthat'snotbecauseIthinktheyareunsympatheticpeople,buttheparticularphaseoflifeandthewaythattheyarewrittenaboutbyRooneywasnotinterestingorengagingtomewhatsoever.Ihadnopatiencefortheirstrugglesandgenerallydidn'tfindthemverylikeable.WhilethisisalsotrueofcharactersinotherRooneynovels,inthoseinstancesIfeltthewritingwasmoreimmersiveandtheplotsthemselvesweremorepage-turning.Thisbookisthedefinitionofplotless,whichI'mokaywithifthecharactersandwritingarecompelling;however,inthisoneIfoundnothingtogripme.IwouldhavebeenmoreinterestedfocusingonAliceonly,herinternalstruggles,herwrestlewithnewfoundfame,hermentalhealth,etc.However,weonlydiscoverthesethingsincontrasttoEileenandFelix,ratherthanfeelingtheinteriorlifeofAliceherself.Ithinkthat'swhatkeptmefromlovingthisbook—Ifeltheldatsuchadistancefromwhatthesecharacterswerereallyfeelingandgoingthroughbecauseitfeltliketheywerestrugglingtodealwithitthemselves.Iamverycurioustohearwhateveryonehastosayaboutthis.Don'tthinkofmeasaRooneyhater;Ireallydidenjoyherfirst2novelsandwashighlyanticipatingit.Idon'tthinkit'sabadbook,either,butitdoesmakeRooneyfeellikeaone-trickpony,andwhenitdoesn'thit,itdisappoints. ...more flag 144likes · Like  · seereview Viewall3comments Sep26,2021 NiluferOzmekik ratedit reallylikedit Idon’tknowthemainreasonIamdrawnintothisbooksodeeply!It’snotfivestarredreadformeandIdon’twanttocompareitwithNormalPeoplebecauseitfeelslikemakingcomparisonsbetweentwothingsincompletelydifferentcategories.Yesthecharactersaretrulyannoyingbutinterestinglyconnectable.Idon’tknowwhyIgotsointerestedtoreadabouttheirsomewhattoophilosophical,honestlycomplex,alittlelong,semi-satisfying,somewhatunfinished,complicated,unresolvedcon Idon’tknowthemainreasonIamdrawnintothisbooksodeeply!It’snotfivestarredreadformeandIdon’twanttocompareitwithNormalPeoplebecauseitfeelslikemakingcomparisonsbetweentwothingsincompletelydifferentcategories.Yesthecharactersaretrulyannoyingbutinterestinglyconnectable.Idon’tknowwhyIgotsointerestedtoreadabouttheirsomewhattoophilosophical,honestlycomplex,alittlelong,semi-satisfying,somewhatunfinished,complicated,unresolvedconversationsaboutlove-sex-commitment-relationships!IthinkMs.Rooneyfoundthewaytotriggersomethingaboutmypast:theanxious,losttimesI’vebeenlookingintomyownlifepath,criticizingmyownmistakes,dealingwiththosedepressingthoughts.Shetrulyforcemetripdownmymemorylane.Ifthiswasanotherauthor’sbookIwouldautomaticallygivethreestarsbecauseofdislikablecharactersandtheirramblinginnerthoughts.Well,thankfullythisisbrilliantauthor’sbookandafterreadingsomechaptersItrulyneededextratimetodigestsomefeelings.Istilldo.I’mlookingattheblankwalls.Ikeepsighing.IthinkIneedadrink.Ineedtogathermythoughts.IwillwriteanextendedreviewbutsofarImustsay:Ienjoyedthisbooksomuch.NowihavetofindthemainreasonwhyIconnectedwiththestory! ...more flag 139likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Nov25,2021 SophiaJudice ratedit reallylikedit 4.5/5!SallyRooneyhasdoneitagain,deliveringusaninsightfulpieceofwork,authentictothehumanexperience.Allfourprotagonistsaredysfunctional,frustrating,yetbeautifullyreal.Thebooknavigatestworomanticrelationshipsthatarefarfromperfect,butonceagainrealandrelatable.Additionally,BeautifulWorldWhereAreYoucontainsaplethoraofkeenexistentialanecdotesaboutlife,mortality,thestateoftheworld,religion,relationships,andthementalhealth.Iparticu 4.5/5!SallyRooneyhasdoneitagain,deliveringusaninsightfulpieceofwork,authentictothehumanexperience.Allfourprotagonistsaredysfunctional,frustrating,yetbeautifullyreal.Thebooknavigatestworomanticrelationshipsthatarefarfromperfect,butonceagainrealandrelatable.Additionally,BeautifulWorldWhereAreYoucontainsaplethoraofkeenexistentialanecdotesaboutlife,mortality,thestateoftheworld,religion,relationships,andthementalhealth.IparticularlyloveSimonandEileen'sstoryline.Theirromanceissosweetandpure,despitetheirpersonalflaws.Really,alloftheirchaptershadmesmilinglikeanidiot.I'mnottypicallydrawntowardorfondofcharacterdrivenplots,butIcouldn'tputthisonedown.Forewarning,ifyou'renotafanofRooney'sNormalPeople,youprobablywon'tlovethis,butIsaygiveitashot.<3 ...more flag 141likes · Like  · seereview Sep13,2021 TK ratedit itwasok  ·  reviewofanotheredition IamwritingaSallyRooneynovel.IamtypingonmyMacBookAirpurchasedin2019,whichcamepackagedinclean,whiteboxing.Iamwritingonawordprocessingprogramme,staringatthewhite,blankpagebeforeme.Myfingerstapthekeyboardnoiselessly.Iamwearingacrinkled,oldsweater.Thereisabitofaplot.BywhichImean,therearescenes.Sometimes,theyevenbecomeevents,orargumentsbetweencharacters.Butthisisquiterare.Thereissomethingclinicalaboutmynarrativevoi IamwritingaSallyRooneynovel.IamtypingonmyMacBookAirpurchasedin2019,whichcamepackagedinclean,whiteboxing.Iamwritingonawordprocessingprogramme,staringatthewhite,blankpagebeforeme.Myfingerstapthekeyboardnoiselessly.Iamwearingacrinkled,oldsweater.Thereisabitofaplot.BywhichImean,therearescenes.Sometimes,theyevenbecomeevents,orargumentsbetweencharacters.Butthisisquiterare.Thereissomethingclinicalaboutmynarrativevoice,alackoftrueemotioninthewriting.ThisisnottosaythatIdonothaveinterestingthingstosayaboutartandlifeandsuccessandwhatever.It’sjustthatthereisnoverve,nopersonalitytothewords.Justalickofdetached,anemicprose.Ialsovacillatebetweenusingparagraphbreaksandforgettingtheyexistentirely.Mycharactersareoftenexpressionlessanddonotrespondtoquestions.Theydonotreacttoothersandkeepsilentinthefaceofaseeminglynormalconversation,thenlatersaytheywanttothrowthemselvesoutofwindowsorcryorsmashawineglassonthefloor.Thenumberoftimesthey‘saynothing’,orspeak‘inaflattone’isimmense.Theyliveinaweird,uncannyvalleyofhumanexistence./LastnightIhadsexwithsomeoneI’veknownsinceprimaryschool.Wewenttodifferentuniversities.Hewasalwaysperfectandtall.Iwasalwaysawkward,andhadnofriends.ButIamnotugly.Infact,Iamquitegoodlooking.Iamskinny,andmaybehaveblondehair.ButforsomereasonIhadnofriends,andwillcontinuetodrivehomethispointwithoutexplainingwhy,exactly,nobodywantstobefriendswithaskinny,beautifulgirlsuchasmyself.Anyway,havingsexwithmychildhoodfriendwasinteresting.Itmightbeexciting,orawkward,oramixtureofboth.Butyouwillnotreallybeabletotell,becauseIcannotmustertheenergytotellyouaboutitinanengagingandvariedmanner.Instead,Imostlydescribesexasthoughitwereasciencetextbookaboutmammalreproductionandusesamefewdescriptorstopepperthetexteverytimeasexsceneoccurs.Whichisveryoften.Thesexwasawful.Butalsogood?Heranawaywithabeautifultwentyfiveyearoldthenextday.Herredblouseflutteringinthewind.Cleareyes.Theseaisinthedistance.Ilookedoutthewindow,smokedacigarette,andthoughtaboutthelateBronzeAgecollapse,fornodiscerniblereasonatall. ...more flag 134likes · Like  · seereview Viewall13comments GayatriAnguloori Spoton.ThisnewbookfeelslikeI’mreadingareallybadfanfictiononwattpadwrittenbya16yearold Dec25,202101:32PM · flag Charismatic Gayatriwrote:"Spoton.ThisnewbookfeelslikeI’mreadingareallybadfanfictiononwattpadwrittenbya16yearold"Man,younailedit.Andyet Gayatriwrote:"Spoton.ThisnewbookfeelslikeI’mreadingareallybadfanfictiononwattpadwrittenbya16yearold"Man,younailedit.Andyet,thisisoneofthepremiereauthorsofourday,hailedbyeverymediaoutlet--hugebiddingwarsonhernovels(eventheFIRST,whenshewasbarelyoutofcollege!)--apremiereTVseriesbasedonthatfirstbook.Wearetalkingaboutadvancesandmovierightsworthmanymillionsofdollars.ANDSHEISANAVOWEDMARXIST.Wannabetsheisnot"givingthemoneytotheproletariat"?SomethingisjustveryverywrongintheworldofpublishingifTHISiswhatisconsideredafineexampleofmodernliterature. ...more Dec25,202103:59PM · flag Sep26,2021 Hamad ratedit itwasok Shelves: adult-books, e-books, 2021-reads ThisReview✍️Blog📖Twitter🐦Instagram📷Supportme☕ “Iwillprobablycontinuetomakepoorlifedecisionsandsufferrecurrentdepressiveepisodes” IfeelthatthisquotesumsupmyfeelingwhenitcomestoRooney’sbooks.IlearnedthelessonthehardwayandIamneverreadinganyofherbooksagain.Infact,IfeelshekeepswritingthesamebookwithdifferentcharacternamesandhereismyguidetowriteyourownSallyRooneynovel:Donotusequotationmarks!!ThePlaceandTi ThisReview✍️Blog📖Twitter🐦Instagram📷Supportme☕ “Iwillprobablycontinuetomakepoorlifedecisionsandsufferrecurrentdepressiveepisodes” IfeelthatthisquotesumsupmyfeelingwhenitcomestoRooney’sbooks.IlearnedthelessonthehardwayandIamneverreadinganyofherbooksagain.Infact,IfeelshekeepswritingthesamebookwithdifferentcharacternamesandhereismyguidetowriteyourownSallyRooneynovel:Donotusequotationmarks!!ThePlaceandTime:Dublinandinthemoderntime,duh!Don’tworrybecausethedescriptionsaregoingtobesogenericthatyoucaneasilychangeittoParis,NewYorkorevenBrazilanditwouldn’tmakeadifference.ButSinceRooneylivesinDublin,itsoundsmoreauthenticthatway.TheCharacters:Makethemaspretentiousandpompousaspossible.Themoreinsufferabletheyare,thebetteritwillbe.Soundslikereadersareboredfromnormalcharacterssoselfloathingcharacterswillbegreat.Weneedtospicethingsupsomakethecharacters-speciallyfemales-smokecigarettesandjoints.LetthecharactersdiveintophilosophicaldiscussionsmostlybasedonWikipediaanddonotforgettoincludeMarxisminthestory. “Whentheyweretwenty-four,AlicesignedanAmericanbookdealfortwohundredandfiftythousanddollars.Shesaidnooneinthepublishingindustryknewanythingaboutmoney,andthatiftheywerestupidenoughtogiveittoher,shewasavariciousenoughtotakeit.” Forthesakeofdiversity,makemostofthecharactersLGBTQ,donotpanicbecausetheywillendupinstraightrelationshipsbutincludeBiandPancharacterswhenpossible.Anothertipistoletcharacterstexteachothersthroughemailsalthoughthereareallkindsofsocialmediaintheworld!ThePlot:Thisiseasierthanitsoundsasthereisreallynoplot,justmixalltheabovementionedchaosandletcharactersmiscommunicateandjustmakeeveryonesleepwitheveryone-notanorgythough-andthat’sit!TheWriting:Sincethereisnorealplotbutyoushouldhitacertainwordcount,trytodescribethingsasmuchaspossible.RememberyoucanalwaysaddrandomthingsfromWikipedia.DONOTUSEQUOTATIONMARKS!!!SideNote:Inthisparticularbook,AlicewasobviouslyarepresentationofRooneyherselfanditwasfunnyhowshekeptwhiningaboutbeingsuccessfulandhavingmillionsofdollarsandhowauthorslifeishard!Summary:Pretentious,obnoxious,pompous,artificial!!!NOOOOOOPE,definitelynotafanoftheauthor’swriting!FarewellRooney! ...more flag 119likes · Like  · seereview Viewall16comments EstherBradley-detally Itriedtolikeit;iamnotanalretentive;butinaworldwhoseequilibriumisupsetvastly,andsharpcontrastsemerge;lightanddarkdukingitou Itriedtolikeit;iamnotanalretentive;butinaworldwhoseequilibriumisupsetvastly,andsharpcontrastsemerge;lightanddarkdukingitout;ifoundthecharactersshallowandmeaningless.Theauthorisagoodwriter,andiwishherwell;idon'tliketogiveabadreview;butiamsaddenedbyherreview;itdoesreflectasocietyanditspeopleindecline;righton;ugh ...more Dec30,202102:08PM · flag Hamad Estherwrote:"Itriedtolikeit;iamnotanalretentive;butinaworldwhoseequilibriumisupsetvastly,andsharpcontrastsemerge;lightandda Estherwrote:"Itriedtolikeit;iamnotanalretentive;butinaworldwhoseequilibriumisupsetvastly,andsharpcontrastsemerge;lightanddarkdukingitout;ifoundthecharactersshallowandmeaningle..."Iprettymuchagreewiththis!! ...more Dec31,202112:58AM · flag Sep01,2021 Susanne ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: libro-fm-alc, audiobooks Reviewtobepostedonblog:https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...WhatcanIsay?:SallyRooneyhassomethingthatIdon’tbelievethatmanyotherauthorshaveandwhatisevenmorespectacularisthatshecanputitdownonpaper.Shehasadeep,innateunderstandingoflife,love,friendships,andrelationships,andthatisintangible.“BeautifulWorld,WhereAreYou”isthestoryoflife.Peoplewhointeractwithoneanotherandwhoformrelationshipsofonekindoranother.Friends,perha Reviewtobepostedonblog:https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...WhatcanIsay?:SallyRooneyhassomethingthatIdon’tbelievethatmanyotherauthorshaveandwhatisevenmorespectacularisthatshecanputitdownonpaper.Shehasadeep,innateunderstandingoflife,love,friendships,andrelationships,andthatisintangible.“BeautifulWorld,WhereAreYou”isthestoryoflife.Peoplewhointeractwithoneanotherandwhoformrelationshipsofonekindoranother.Friends,perhapsloversandwhoattimes,areunabletocommunicatetheirthoughtsandfeelingsproperly,andbecauseofthat,theirrelationshipssuffer.HerewehaveEileenandAlice,whoarebestfriends,thoughtheyhaven’tseeneachotherinyearsandcommunicateonlyviaemail.Aliceisafamousauthor,whodatesamannamedFelix,whoiselusive,difficult,andbrooding.FelixlikesAlicethoughhetreatsherpoorlyattimes,andisoftenunabletogiveherexactlywhatsheneeds.Eileen’sotherbestfriendisSimon,withwhomshehasbeenfriendssincechildhood.Thetwohavehadunresolvedfeelingsforeachotherforever,thoughtheyhavealwayshadahardtimeexpressingthemselvesandalwaysmisunderstandeachother.Lifeforthesefourisattimeseasyandatothertimes,complicatedashell,butthenthat’slife.InBeautifulWorld,WhereAreYou,SallyRooneydelvesintotheserelationshipswithadefthand.Divingdeepandidentifyingeverymultifacetedaspectoftherelationshipsbetweenbothfriendsandlovers.Mytakeaway?Nothingisevereasyandyet,everythingworthhavingisworthworkingtowards.IhadbeeneagerlyawaitingMs.Rooney’snextnovelanditwasworththewait.WhileIdidn’tquitelovethisasmuchaseitherConversationswithFriendsormyabsolutefavoritenovelofhers,NormalPeople,Ireallyenjoyedthisbookandlookforwardtohernextnovel.ThisonceagainshowcasedSallyRooney’swritingstyleandherbrilliantunderstandingofpeople,humanity,andofrelationships.ThankyoutoLibro.fmandMacmillanAudioforthealc.PublishedonGoodreads,Twitter,andInstagram. ...more flag 118likes · Like  · seereview Viewall22comments Aug08,2021 AdamDalva ratedit itwasamazing IfyouloveSallyRooney-andIdo,Ithinkshe’saunique,spiky,marvelousvoice-thiswillbeablast.Thestructure,partepistolary,partunusuallyremovednarration,isfascinatingandAlice(aRooneysurrogate,inmyreading)andEileenareterrificleads.Thetestofmulti-perspective,Ithink,isafeelingoflosseverytimethebookpivots,followedquicklybyarenewedinterest,thereadingspeedingasitgoes.Thatwasthecasehere. flag 114likes · Like  · seereview View1comment Aug31,2021 Caitlin ratedit itwasamazing  ·  reviewofanotheredition Shelves: books-i-adore aspresidentofthesallyrooneyfanclubiwasluckyenoughtoreceiveanARC:')ivloggedmyreadingexperiencehere!!!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d3A9... aspresidentofthesallyrooneyfanclubiwasluckyenoughtoreceiveanARC:')ivloggedmyreadingexperiencehere!!!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d3A9... ...more flag 116likes · Like  · seereview View2comments Aug29,2021 Romie ratedit itwasamazing Shelves: 2021-releases, adult, contemporary, favourites-2021, owned, read-as-an-audiobook, queer Ican’tbelieveSallyRooneymademecryinthemiddleofSainsbury’s,holdingacroissant,wantingtohugmyself. flag 111likes · Like  · seereview «previous123456789…next» newtopicDiscussThisBook topics  posts  views  lastactivity    TournamentofBooks: 2022TOBShortlist 87 200 1hour,13minago   GoodreadsChoice...: BeautifulWorld,WhereAreYou-January2022 1 4 10hours,59minago   TournamentofBooks: BeautifulWorld,WhereAreYou? 16 88 19hours,45minago   BooksEverAfter: Maandboek:BeautifulWorld,WhereAreYou-SallyRooney 14 28 Dec31,202106:16AM   FindAReadingBuddy: BeautifulWorld,WhereAreYouBuddyRead 1 6 Dec21,202109:34AM   CanwealljusttalkaboutwhatahorriblepersonSallyRooneyis? 7 314 Nov18,202107:37AM   Moretopics... Share RecommendIt  |  Stats  |  RecentStatusUpdates Readersalsoenjoyed Seesimilarbooks… Genres Fiction 1,183users Contemporary 616users Romance 392users LiteraryFiction 223users Adult 145users Cultural> Ireland 139users Audiobook 126users AdultFiction 93users EuropeanLiterature> IrishLiterature 93users Novels 90users Seetopshelves… AboutSallyRooney SallyRooney 25,109 followers SallyRooneywasbornin1991andlivesinDublin,whereshegraduatedfromTrinityCollege.HerworkhasappearedinGranta,TheDublinReview,TheWhiteReview,TheStingingFly,andtheWinterPagesanthology. BooksbySallyRooney More… ArticlesfeaturingthisbookThePandemicArrivesonBookShelveswithTheseNewReleases Notnormal,newnormal,super-spreading,andsociallydistant.Yup,it'sbeenacoupleyearsofCOVIDandpandemic-centricstoriesare...Readmore...34likes·12comments TriviaAboutBeautifulWorld,... Notriviaorquizzesyet.Addsomenow» QuotesfromBeautifulWorld,... “Maybewe'rejustborntoloveandworryaboutthepeopleweknow,andtogoonlovingandworryingevenwhentherearemoreimportantthingsweshouldbedoing.Andifthatmeansthehumanspeciesisgoingtodieout,isn'titinawayanicereasontodieout,thenicestreasonyoucanimagine?Becausewhenweshouldhavebeenreorganisingthedistributionoftheworld'sresourcesandtransitioningcollectivelytoasustainableeconomicmodel,wewereworryingaboutsexandfriendshipinstead.Becausewelovedeachothertoomuchandfoundeachothertoointeresting.AndIlovethatabouthumanity,andinfactit'stheveryreasonIrootforustosurvive-becausewearesostupidabouteachother.” — 207likes “WhenItrytopictureformyselfwhatahappylifemightlooklike,thepicturehasn'tchangedverymuchsinceIwasachild-ahousewithflowersandtreesaroundit,andarivernearby,andaroomfullofbooks,andsomeonetheretoloveme,that'sall.Justtomakeahomethere,andtocareformyparentswhentheygrowolder.Nevertomove,nevertoboardaplaneagain,justtolivequietlyandthenbeburiedintheearth.” — 98likes Morequotes… Welcomeback.JustamomentwhilewesignyouintoyourGoodreadsaccount.