Reviews

Όμορφε κόσμε, πού είσαι by Sally Rooney

sleeping_probs's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

rctexas08's review against another edition

5.0

Probably my favorite read of the past couple of months! I (mainly) only purchased this Sally Rooney piece because I absolutely love the cover. And starting it, I had not clue what to expect. But finishing it, I was literally smiling ear-to-ear, so impressed by how… simple the book ended up being. Mundane might be a better word.

This book showed the sometimes frightening complexities of human relationships (platonic, familial and romantic, alike) in such a nuanced way. You’re ultimately reading about two women and the respective men they bring into their lives. I loved all of the characters so much, particularly Alice, as they often seemed to be reaching for something that seemed so close but so far. They’re neuroticism, dry humor and truly normal-ass lives made them feel all the more relatable. I appreciated them. And from what we had in common (or THOUGHT in common), I saw myself.

jannachai's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

kathafe's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

nalli's review against another edition

Kind of boring. Writing style not for me 

maggimab's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

elyssam's review against another edition

emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Sally Rooney’s books are like those quiet indie films that are a little weird but oddly life changing. Beautiful World, Where Are You was a good example of this. I liked Alice and Felix, their complexities. 

killedshini's review against another edition

4.0

Beatiful world, where are you? is a nice light reading about young people trying to build relationships, romantic and otherwise, in late-stage capitalism. They also search for (lost?) beauty in their lives and life in general, in times full of kitsch, ugliness, and alienation; and for any sort of meaning in the era of the climate crisis and the end of history. What I loved the most about the book was the contrast of tedious, almost robotic descriptions of everyday banalities and the colorful thoughtfulness of email communication between Alice and Eileen.

kristinsesselja's review against another edition

4.0

I found the parts about friendship super interesting and heartwarming and complicated. Made me think of my own female friendships and I felt like I could see parts of myself in all of the characters.
Is this the sexiest Sally Rooney book? I think so…

Also probably the most intellectual of her books. So many thoughts about beauty, mental health. All of the emails between Alice and Eileen were really thought provoking

heddas_bookgems's review against another edition

4.0

“Alice, Do you think the problem of the contemporary novel is simply the problem of contemporary life? I agree it seems vulgar, decadent, even epistemically violent, to invest energy in the trivialities of sex and friendship when human civilization is facing collapse. But at the same time, that is what I do every day.” Feeling everything and more but no courage to admit that you feel. Blaming the world of being distant but being detached yourself.

In the fairly new novel from Sally Rooney Beautiful World Where Are You we follow the best friends Alice and Eileen entangling life and their role in it. As they are not living together they write long philosophical and heartfelt emails while in real life they seem distant and detached.

I love the novels by Sally Rooney and although I had difficulty getting into this one I did ended up liking it. The narrative was detached, but so was the behavior of the characters. It had lyrical writing but at the same point it was alienating. It had clear philosophies but the decisions Eileen and Alice made where incomprehensible at the same time. The beauty in it? Life consists of opposites. Definitely worth the read. It’s a book that needs time to sink in and it has almost zero plot, but it was a wonderful read.