Rooney's Perspective: Sally Rooney feels pressure while publishing, preferring her writing to speak for itself. In "Intermezzo," she explores male narratives without focusing on masculinity, emphasizing her fictional characters are not autobiographical.
Sally Rooney, a popular Irish author, finds sharing her work stressful due to the pressure of public reaction before readers even have a chance to read her books. In her latest novel, "Intermezzo," she explores male perspectives without intentionally seeking to write about masculinity. Rooney emphasizes that her characters, including two brothers dealing with loss, are fictional and not reflections of her life. While aware of the discourse around her work, she prefers to let her writing speak for itself and does not engage with critics or readers until her work is published. This allows her to maintain a level of personal integrity in her creative process, trusting that the value of her writing will be determined by the readers.
Writer's Separation: Writers maintain a clear distinction between their personal lives, political beliefs, and fiction, focusing on character authenticity without self-reference. They avoid reading biographies of other writers, preferring to uphold the unique narrative integrity of their own work.
Writers often separate their personal lives, their political views, and their fictional work. The author feels a strong disconnect between their life and what people interpret from their novels. They believe that while their stories may reflect political beliefs, their personal experiences should not be linked to their fiction. The author sees value in their writing process as performing like an actor, fully embracing their characters without drawing from their life. They show a disinterest in reading other authors' biographies and prefer to keep their professional and personal identities distinct, focusing primarily on the themes and characters they create rather than direct correlations to themselves. This method allows them to maintain creative integrity and focus on the universal human experiences depicted in their stories without the weight of personal expectations or interpretations clouding their writing.
Character Depth: The author prioritizes authentic storytelling and deep character connections over career growth or novelty, exploring intimate human dynamics to convey relationship complexities authentically.
The author emphasizes a focus on creating profound, unique stories rather than pursuing novelty or career advancement. They express a deep connection to their characters, seeing them as gifts that inspire new ideas. The author believes in the importance of showing intimate human dynamics, including sexual interactions, as critical to understanding relationships. They prefer to explore what makes a character's perspective unique, using varying writing styles to convey internal experiences. This approach is grounded in authenticity rather than external pressures or expectations for growth, allowing them to fully express the complexity of interpersonal relationships.
Writing Intimacy: Writers face challenges in portraying intimacy without discomforting readers. Their youth and generational experiences influence their work, particularly regarding societal issues like housing. Balancing public scrutiny with genuine expression is a complicated yet significant part of their creative process.
Navigating the complexities of writing about intimate topics, particularly sex, can feel like a delicate balancing act. Writers often wrestle with the risk of offending readers or invoking feelings of discomfort while trying to express intimacy. Despite the pressures of public perception, particularly for young women, these experiences inevitably shape their work. Many writers feel that their age and generational experiences, such as the economic challenges their peers face, influence their storytelling. Hyper visibility can bring both opportunities and pressures, complicating their relationship with their own identity and creativity. It's a common struggle to simultaneously seek authenticity while managing the scrutiny that comes with success. Writers may find solace in usual pastimes like reading, reflecting everyday lives that shape their narratives, creating a connection between their personal experiences and their literary work.
Writing Insights: Through writing, characters confront philosophical questions, helping the author find personal fulfillment and gratitude for their own unique life.
Writing allows individuals to explore deeper questions of existence and identity through fictional characters. This exploration not only helps the writer confront their own life experiences but also fosters a sense of gratitude for their unique life. Engaging with these characters enriches their understanding of life, creating insights that connect personal fulfillment with a broader human experience.
Cultural Tensions: Young women creators often struggle with the balance between public perception and their intellectual contributions, especially in a celebrity-driven culture. They question the value of their work amid societal crises, while still valuing the personal significance that writing provides.
Young women in the cultural spotlight often face challenges in being recognized for their intellectual contributions rather than merely their images. This tension can lead to feelings of being misunderstood or misrepresented in a society that favors celebrity culture. The speaker expresses discomfort with the intense public attention that adaptations of their work generate, reflecting on the responsibility and personal impact this attention can have on both creators and cast members. They also grapple with the purpose of their creative work in a time of significant environmental and societal crises, questioning whether their efforts contribute positively to the world or if they simply provide an escape from pressing realities. Despite these challenges, the speaker remains committed to their craft, valuing the personal meaning and expression that writing brings, even amidst uncertainty about its broader impact.
Art's Role: Art can provide meaning and comfort during challenging times, serving as a source of joy and connection for both creators and audiences, even when it doesn’t address political issues directly.
In times of overwhelming challenges, it’s essential for people to find meaning in life. Art plays a crucial role in providing that sense of purpose, acting as a source of comfort and consolation for those navigating struggles. While art may not solve political crises, its existence and sincerity are vital. Even imperfect works can resonate deeply with individuals and offer joy in both creation and consumption. Thus, the process of creating art becomes important, not just for the artist but also for the audience, as it helps foster connection and appreciation for life's experiences, no matter how tough they might feel.
'The Interview': Sally Rooney Thinks Career Growth Is Overrated
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Recent Episodes from The Daily
How NAFTA Broke American Politics
On the campaign trail, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are constantly talking about trade, tariffs and domestic manufacturing.
In many ways, these talking points stem from a single trade deal that transformed the U.S. economy and remade both parties’ relationship with the working class.
Dan Kaufman, a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine, explains how the North American Free Trade Agreement broke American politics.
Guest: Dan Kaufman, the author of “The Fall of Wisconsin,” and a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine.
Background reading:
- How NAFTA broke American politics.
- Both Democrats and Republicans are expressing support for tariffs to protect American industry, reversing decades of trade thinking in Washington.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Soon, you’ll need a subscription to keep full access to this show, and to other New York Times podcasts, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Don’t miss out on exploring all of our shows, featuring everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts.
The Year Since Oct. 7
Warning: this episode contains descriptions of war and trauma.
One year ago, Israel suffered the worst terrorist attack in its history. The conflict that followed has become bigger and deadlier by the day, killing tens of thousands of people and expanding from Gaza to Yemen, Lebanon and now Iran.
Today, we return to two men in Israel and Gaza, to hear how their lives have changed.
Guests: Golan Abitbul, a resident of Kibbutz Be’eri, in southern Israel; and Hussein Owda, who was among more than a million people sheltering in Rafah.
Background reading:
- How Oct. 7 sparked a year of conflict.
- Listen to the first interview with Golan.
- Listen to the first interview with Hussein.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Soon, you’ll need a subscription to keep full access to this show, and to other New York Times podcasts, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Don’t miss out on exploring all of our shows, featuring everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts.
The Sunday Read: ‘The Blind Side’ Made Him Famous. But He Has a Different Story to Tell.
It was an overcast Monday afternoon in late April, and Michael Oher, the former football player whose high school years were dramatized in the movie “The Blind Side,” was driving Michael Sokolove on a tour through a forlorn-looking stretch of Memphis and past some of the landmarks of his childhood.
In the movie, Oher moves into the home of the wealthy white couple Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy. They take him shopping for clothes, help him obtain a driver’s license, buy him a pickup truck and arrange for tutoring that helps improve his grades and makes him eligible to play college football. In real life, Oher went on to play eight seasons as a starting offensive tackle in the N.F.L. and won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens.
Now, Oher is suing the Tuohys, claiming that they have exploited him by using his name, image and likeness to promote speaking engagements that have earned them roughly $8 million over the last two decades — and by repeatedly saying that they adopted him when they never did.
Soon, you’ll need a subscription to keep full access to this show, and to other New York Times podcasts, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Don’t miss out on exploring all of our shows, featuring everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts.
'The Interview': Al Pacino Is Still Going Big
Four Weeks to Go
With Election Day fast approaching, polls show the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald J. Trump to be the closest in a generation.
The Times journalists Michael Barbaro, Shane Goldmacher, Maggie Haberman and Nate Cohn break down the state of the race and discuss the last-minute strategies that might tip the scales.
Guest:
- Shane Goldmacher, a national political correspondent for The New York Times.
- Maggie Haberman, a senior political correspondent for The New York Times.
- Nate Cohn, the chief political analyst for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- The state of the race: a calm week and perhaps the clearest picture yet.
- Scenes of workers on strike, hurricane devastation in the Southeast and missiles over Israel pose tests for Ms. Harris.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Soon, you’ll need a subscription to keep full access to this show, and to other New York Times podcasts, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Don’t miss out on exploring all of our shows, featuring everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts.
Iran Retaliates
Israel’s series of military successes against its longtime adversary Hezbollah had raised the question of whether the militant group’s backer, Iran, would retaliate. On Tuesday, that question was answered, when Iran fired a barrage of missiles at Israel.
Patrick Kingsley, the Jerusalem bureau chief for The Times, and Farnaz Fassihi, The Times’s United Nations bureau chief, discuss how they see events developing from here.
Guest:
- Patrick Kingsley, the Jerusalem bureau chief for The New York Times.
- Farnaz Fassihi, the United Nations bureau chief for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- Fiery balls of light could be seen falling from the sky over Jerusalem and loud explosions could be heard in Tel Aviv and other areas as Iran launched 180 ballistic missiles at Israel.
- After the missile attack, Israel may be more prepared to risk war with Iran.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Soon, you’ll need a subscription to keep full access to this show, and to other New York Times podcasts, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Don’t miss out on exploring all of our shows, featuring everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts.
The Walz-Vance Debate: Civility and Then a Clash
Just three weeks after Kamala Harris and Donald J. Trump engaged in a fiery and often hostile presidential debate, their running mates, Tim Walz and JD Vance, met for their own face-off — and struck a very different chord.
Reid J. Epstein, a politics reporter for The Times, explains why this debate was so different and what it could mean for the race.
Guest: Reid J. Epstein, a politics reporter for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- Read coverage of the debate.
- Analysis: Mr. Vance strained to sell a softer image of Mr. Trump.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Soon, you’ll need a subscription to keep full access to this show, and to other New York Times podcasts, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Don’t miss out on exploring all of our shows, featuring everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts.
Hurricane Helene’s 600 Miles of Destruction
Warning: This episode contains strong language and descriptions of death.
Over the past few days, Hurricane Helene has left a trail of devastation, killing more than 100 people, driving thousands from their homes and leaving millions without power.
Judson Jones, a meteorologist and weather reporter for The Times, and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, a Times national reporter, discuss the toll left by the deadly storm.
Guest:
- Judson Jones, a meteorologist and reporter for The New York Times.
- Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, a national reporter for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- Hurricane Helene spawned flash floods and landslides as it barreled north after devastating parts of Florida’s Gulf Coast.
- In less than a day, Helene transformed from a Category 1 hurricane to a Category 4. Read about how that happened so quickly.
For more information on today’s episode, visit
. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Soon, you’ll need a subscription to keep full access to this show, and to other New York Times podcasts, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Don’t miss out on exploring all of our shows, featuring everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts.
Alliance vs. Isolation: Harris and Trump’s Competing Views on Foreign Policy
As wars in Ukraine and the Middle East deepen, the U.S. presidential campaign is raising a crucial question: Whose idea of American foreign policy will the world get next?
Peter Baker, the chief White House correspondent for The Times, walks us through the plans put forward by Kamala Harris and by Donald J. Trump.
Guest: Peter Baker, the chief White House correspondent for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- Ms. Harris met with Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, signaling that the White House was preparing her to take over a thorny diplomatic relationship.
- Mr. Zelensky also met with Mr. Trump as concerns mount in Kyiv that a second Trump administration could spell the end of American support against Russia.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Soon, you’ll need a subscription to keep full access to this show, and to other New York Times podcasts, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Don’t miss out on exploring all of our shows, featuring everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts.
The Deserter: Parts 4 and 5
In “The Deserter,” Sarah A. Topol reports the story of Ivan, a captain in the Russian Army who fought in Ukraine and then ultimately fled the war and his country with his wife, Anna. Topol spoke to 18 deserters while reporting in eight countries across four continents over the last year and a half; their experiences helped paint a vivid picture of the Russian war operation and its corruption, chaos and brutality.
Narrated by Liev Schreiber.
“The Deserter” is a five-part special series in collaboration with The New York Times Magazine.
All five parts of this audio feature can be found here or by searching for “The Deserter” on the NYT Audio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
The text version of the story can be found here.
Soon, you’ll need a subscription to keep full access to this show, and to other New York Times podcasts, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Don’t miss out on exploring all of our shows, featuring everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts.