Written by Ally Abruscato, Graphic by Anna Porter
As I’ve said before, Sally Rooney is exceptionally talented at making irritating and complicated characters that you hate to love. The same is true in “Conversations with Friends,” as two college students befriend a couple in their 30s. “Normal People” definitely felt like a story of, dare I say, normal people. But if these are ever the conversations I’m having with my friends, we might have a problem.
Frances and Bobbi are best friends, ex-lovers, and college students. Early in the book, they meet a slightly older author and photographer named Melissa. While Bobbi is seemingly obsessed with Melissa, Frances falls for her husband, Nick. Obviously, this cannot end well. The story follows the confusing friend group as they all navigate their feelings for one another. Frances and Bobbi’s long-lasting friendship is tested and pulled apart at the seams. Frances questions herself as she makes concerning life choices and grapples with her own health issues.
Your first inclination might be to wonder why this married couple is bothering to hang out with a couple of 21-year-olds in the first place. However, Rooney’s writing is so convincing and believable that the situation makes sense. While the plot itself might not sound intriguing at first, the magic comes from Rooney’s rich character studies. She writes as if the reader is in someone else’s mind, sleuthing around and finding all their unfavorable secrets. You almost feel guilty for knowing such intimate details about the characters. I found “Conversations with Friends” to be an enthralling and captivating read. Although the characters are unlikable, that is seemingly the point. The reader still manages to find parts of themselves in the book, even if it is not parts they are proud of. One of my favorite quotes from the book, and one that sums it up quite well, is, “Everyone’s always going through something, aren’t they? That’s life, basically. It’s just more and more things to go through.”
I’ll be back soon with another book review, but until then, I’m Booked.
As Editor-in-Chief, Ally Abruscato leads and supports a talented group of staff and contributors in pursuing their creative endeavors. At SCAD, Ally majors in Photography and minors in Advertising & Branding. She regularly offers pop culture insights through movie reviews, articles and her weekly column, “I’m Booked.” When she’s not writing or taking photos, Ally’s probably outside, reading or running.
