
Dialogues, too, are interrupted by abrupt transitions that are nevertheless gracefully constructed. The same technique is used repeatedly for the expansion of time, or its shortening. For instance, chapter XV presents a decidedly cinematic introduction to Simon’s flat with sudden changes of scene, shifting the eye now to the plate soaking in the sink, the sweatshirt tossed haphazardly on the sofa, the ever-diminishing light fading and giving way to the darkness, until Simon enters and flicks the switch. But here again, she succeeds with brief but efficacious pictures. I usually admire those descriptions that convey the picturesqueness of the setting, that instill the atmosphere of the scene sharply in me. Rooney pays a lot of attention to gestures, which give vividness and theatricality to the characters. I, for one, am a great enthusiast of the power of description and its harmony. Sally Rooney has a wonderful gift for portraying people's everyday lives, their innermost thoughts, and sensibilities. "People," she replies, and if it’s not Rooney herself who answers, maybe she would respond likewise. "What are your books about?" Felix asks Alice when he finds out she's a writer - I will tell you who these characters are in a snap. Her latest book, however, has triggered me and I feel, in my small way, that I have a word to say about this publication, so today I have decided to dedicate a space to Beautiful World, Where Are You. It is not easy to write a review of a publishing sensation like Sally Rooney, who has captured the hearts of readership in Europe and worldwide.
