Diksia.com - Sally Rooney is one of the most acclaimed contemporary writers of our time. Her novels, Conversations with Friends, Normal People and Beautiful World, Where Are You, have captivated readers and critics alike with their sharp insights into the complexities of human relationships, especially among young adults.
But before she became a bestselling novelist, she was a short story writer, and in 2016, she published Two Stories, a collection of two short stories that explore the uncertainties of attraction and desire.
In this article, I will review Two Stories by Sally Rooney, and discuss its themes, characters, writing style and message. I will also compare it to her other works and recommend it to potential readers.
If you are interested in reading Two Stories by Sally Rooney, or if you are a fan of her novels and want to discover her earlier work, this article is for you.
Book Details
- Title: Two Stories
- Author: Sally Rooney
- Genres: Literary fiction, short stories, Contemporary fiction, Romance
- Chapters: 2
- Language: English
- Publisher: Faber & Faber
- Publication date: 11 Mei 2020
- Rating: 4.3/5 stars on Goodreads
- Awards: None
Recommended Audience
Two Stories by Sally Rooney is suitable for readers who enjoy literary fiction, especially short stories that focus on character development and psychological realism.
It is also recommended for fans of Sally Rooney’s novels, who want to see how she started her writing career and how she developed her distinctive voice and style.
However, readers who prefer plot-driven stories with clear resolutions and happy endings may not find Two Stories satisfying, as it leaves many questions unanswered and many emotions unresolved.
Overview
Two Stories by Sally Rooney consists of two short stories that are unrelated in plot but share similar themes and tone. The first story is called Mr Salary, and it follows Sukie, a young woman who lives with Nathan, an older man who has been her friend and benefactor since she was a teenager. Sukie’s father is dying in the hospital, and she has to confront her feelings for Nathan, who may or may not be in love with her.
The second story is called Colour and Light, and it follows Aidan, a young man who works as a hotel receptionist and meets Pauline, a mysterious woman who invites him to watch a firework display with her. Aidan is attracted to Pauline, but he also feels confused and frustrated by her mixed signals and erratic behavior.
Both stories are told in the first-person point of view, from the perspective of Sukie and Aidan respectively. Both stories are set in Ireland, where Sally Rooney is from. Both stories deal with themes such as love, loneliness, uncertainty, communication and identity.
Plot Summary
In Mr Salary, Sukie narrates how she met Nathan when she was 15 years old. He was a friend of her uncle’s and he offered to help her with her schoolwork. Sukie’s mother had died when she was young, and her father was abusive and neglectful.
Nathan became her mentor and protector, and eventually invited her to live with him when she turned 18. Sukie accepted his offer, but she never knew what their relationship was exactly. They slept in separate rooms, but they also shared intimate moments and secrets. They never talked about their feelings or their future.
The story begins with Sukie returning to Ireland from Boston, where she was studying on a scholarship that Nathan had arranged for her. She comes back because her father is dying of cancer in the hospital. She stays with Nathan in his apartment, where they resume their ambiguous relationship.
Sukie feels grateful to Nathan for everything he has done for her, but she also feels guilty for not being able to love him the way he deserves. She wonders if he loves her as a daughter or as a lover. She wonders if she loves him at all.
The story ends with Sukie visiting her father in the hospital for the last time. She tells him that she loves him, even though she doesn’t mean it. She then goes back to Nathan’s apartment, where they have sex for the first time. Sukie feels nothing but emptiness.
In Colour and Light, Aidan narrates how he met Pauline at his workplace. He works as a receptionist at a hotel that hosts weddings and other events. Pauline is a guest at one of the weddings, and she catches Aidan’s eye with her red dress and blonde hair.
She approaches him at the front desk and asks him if he wants to watch the firework display with her. Aidan agrees, even though he doesn’t know anything about her.
The story follows Aidan and Pauline as they walk around the hotel grounds and watch the fireworks. They talk about their lives, their dreams, their fears and their opinions. Aidan finds Pauline fascinating and mysterious, but he also finds her frustrating and confusing.
She seems to be interested in him, but she also seems to be hiding something. She flirts with him, but she also pushes him away. She tells him personal stories, but she also lies to him. She invites him to kiss her, but she also rejects him.
The story ends with Aidan and Pauline parting ways after the fireworks. Pauline tells Aidan that she is married and that she has a son. She tells him that she is sorry for leading him on, but that she just wanted to have some fun.
She tells him that he is a nice guy, but that they will never see each other again. Aidan feels hurt and angry, but he also feels relieved. He realizes that he doesn’t know Pauline at all, and that he doesn’t want to.
Characters and Character Development
- Sukie: The protagonist of Mr Salary. She is a 24-year-old woman who lives with Nathan, a 39-year-old man who has been her friend and benefactor since she was a teenager. She is smart, independent and ambitious, but she is also insecure, lonely and conflicted. She doesn’t know what she wants from Nathan or from life. She doesn’t develop much throughout the story, as she remains passive and indecisive until the end.
- Nathan: The titular character of Mr Salary. He is a 39-year-old man who works as a software engineer and earns a lot of money. He is kind, generous and caring, but he is also secretive, possessive and controlling. He loves Sukie, but he doesn’t tell her how he feels or what he expects from her. He doesn’t develop much throughout the story, as he remains loyal and devoted to Sukie until the end.
- Aidan: The protagonist of Colour and Light. He is a 25-year-old man who works as a receptionist at a hotel. He is bored, restless and dissatisfied with his life. He wants to travel, write and have meaningful experiences, but he doesn’t have the courage or the opportunity to do so. He meets Pauline, a mysterious woman who invites him to watch a firework display with her. He is attracted to her, but he also feels confused and frustrated by her mixed signals and erratic behavior. He develops slightly throughout the story, as he learns to let go of his illusions and expectations.
- Pauline: The main character of Colour and Light. She is a 32-year-old woman who is a guest at a wedding at the hotel where Aidan works. She is beautiful, charming and charismatic, but she is also manipulative, dishonest and selfish. She flirts with Aidan, but she also lies to him about her identity and her intentions. She wants to have some fun, but she also wants to escape from her unhappy marriage and her boring life. She doesn’t develop much throughout the story, as she remains elusive and unpredictable until the end.
Theme and Message
The main theme of Two Stories by Sally Rooney is uncertainty. Both stories explore the uncertainty of attraction, love and identity among young adults who are trying to find their place in the world. Both stories show how uncertainty can lead to confusion, frustration, pain and emptiness.
The message of Two Stories by Sally Rooney is that uncertainty is inevitable in life, especially in relationships. Both stories suggest that uncertainty can be both exciting and terrifying, both liberating and limiting, both hopeful and hopeless. Both stories imply that uncertainty can be embraced or rejected, but it can never be resolved.
Writing Style
Sally Rooney’s writing style in Two Stories is simple, clear and direct. She uses short sentences, simple words and minimal descriptions. She focuses on dialogue and inner monologue rather than action and narration. She creates realistic characters and situations that are easy to relate to and understand.
Sally Rooney’s writing style in Two Stories is also subtle, nuanced and complex. She uses irony, ambiguity and understatement to convey deeper meanings and emotions. She creates layers of tension and conflict that are not explicitly stated or resolved. She leaves gaps and silences that invite interpretation and reflection.
Pros and Cons
Some of the pros of Two Stories by Sally Rooney are:
- It showcases Sally Rooney’s talent as a short story writer
- It introduces some of the themes and techniques that she later develops in her novels
- It offers realistic and insightful portraits of young adults in contemporary Ireland
- It engages the reader’s interest and curiosity with its ambiguous endings
Some of the cons of Two Stories by Sally Rooney are:
- It may disappoint readers who expect more plot development or resolution
- It may frustrate readers who prefer more clarity or closure
- It may bore readers who prefer more action or description
- It may alienate readers who cannot connect with or sympathize with the characters
Comparison to Other Works
Two Stories by Sally Rooney can be compared to her other works, especially her novels, Conversations with Friends, Normal People and Beautiful World, Where Are You. All of these works share similar themes, such as love, friendship, identity, class and politics.
All of these works feature young adults who struggle with their relationships, their emotions and their choices. All of these works have a distinctive style that is simple, clear and direct, but also subtle, nuanced and complex.
However, Two Stories by Sally Rooney can also be distinguished from her other works, especially her novels, in some ways. For example:
- Two Stories is shorter and more concise than her novels, which are longer and more expansive
- Two Stories is more ambiguous and open-ended than her novels, which have more plot development and resolution
- Two Stories is more focused and intimate than her novels, which have more characters and perspectives
- Two Stories is more experimental and diverse than her novels, which have a more consistent and coherent tone and voice
Where To Read Book
Two Stories by Sally Rooney is available in various formats and platforms. You can read it as a physical book, an e-book or an audiobook. You can buy it online or in bookstores. You can also borrow it from libraries or friends.
Here are some links where you can find Two Stories by Sally Rooney:
- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Two-Stories-Sally-Rooney/dp/1004014767
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53347543-two-stories
- Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Two-Stories-Audiobook/1004014767
- Penguin Random House: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/670160/two-stories-by-sally-rooney-read-by-aoife-mcmahon-and-sam-omahony/9780735282308
Conclusion
Two Stories by Sally Rooney is a collection of two short stories that explore the uncertainties of attraction and desire among young adults in contemporary Ireland.
It showcases Sally Rooney’s talent as a short story writer and introduces some of the themes and techniques that she later develops in her novels.
It offers realistic and insightful portraits of characters who are trying to find their place in the world and in their relationships. It engages the reader’s interest and curiosity with its ambiguous endings.
Two Stories by Sally Rooney is a book that I would recommend to readers who enjoy literary fiction, especially short stories that focus on character development and psychological realism.
It is also a book that I would recommend to fans of Sally Rooney’s novels, who want to discover her earlier work and how she started her writing career.
However, it is not a book that I would recommend to readers who prefer plot-driven stories with clear resolutions and happy endings, or readers who prefer more action or description in their stories.
Two Stories by Sally Rooney is a book that I enjoyed reading, but it is not a book that I loved reading. It made me think, but it did not make me feel. It intrigued me, but it did not satisfy me. It left me with questions, but it did not give me answers.
