Reflective Tale, Ironic Characters

In bookstores, certain books are always showcased in prominent spaces, and no matter how much you try to avoid them, your eyes will inevitably fall on them. This is how I came across the novel “Conversation with Friends." Although I had planned to read it ever since I saw it, it wasn’t until last month that I picked it up. It’s a debut novel, but as you turn its pages, you won’t believe it’s the author’s first book. Written by Sally Rooney, the novel delves into the themes of friendship, love, bisexuality, mental health, self-doubt, and many more aspects that every human being can relate to.

The story is set in Dublin, where the protagonist Frances leads a dull life, writing and performing in poetry shows with Bobby, her ex-lover. The author’s audacity to build queer characters shows her confidence as a writer. Choosing queer characters to tell the story is not an easy task, but the author has skilfully captured their emotions and internal struggles. Frances is bisexual, and Bobby is a lesbian. Though they are no longer in a romantic relationship, they live together, highlighting the intensity of their friendship. In the novel, Frances is shown as a brooding and indecisive woman in contrast to Bobby’s intuitive and outgoing personality.

In one of the poetry shows, Frances and Bobby get to know Melissa, a photographer-cum-essayist who is in her thirties. Melissa admires their work, and soon they establish a rapport. One day, Melissa invites them to her house, where they are introduced to Nick, Melissa’s husband. Nick is an actor whose career is on the verge of downfall. No one knew that this meeting at Melissa’s house would bring upheaval to everyone’s lives. 

Frances and Nick start having an affair without giving any hint to others, while Bobby is attracted to Melissa. The extramarital affair creates tension, keeping readers guessing about Melissa’s reaction if she were to find out. However, in the past, Melissa has also been involved in an extramarital affair with Nick’s friend. As for Frances, her affair with Nick was her first ever bonding with a man. These complex relationships allow everyone to reflect on themselves, their lives, and their past relationships.

As the novel progresses, the readers witness Frances’ growing fondness towards Nick. She thinks she is in love with Nick and expects the same from him. Nick isn’t expressive and won’t clearly confess his feelings. 

Nick’s past was forgettable as he struggled with mental health issues. Now that Frances has shown interest in him, he feels energised and alive, escaping the pit of skepticism. Despite not expressing any concrete feelings, Nick and Frances continue their affair. On the other side, Bobby senses that Frances is into Nick, so she maintains a safe distance from her.

In the summer, Melissa and her husband are joined by their family friends on a vacation in France. Bobby and Frances also accept the invitation, and soon Frances is sleeping in Nick’s bed, which deepens their relationship even more. After returning from the vacation, Frances discovers her incurable disease related to reproductive health. She can’t bring herself to tell anyone, not even her mother. She doesn’t want to be seen as weak. She fears people will pass judgements, which she absolutely detests. 

The worst happens when Melissa finds out about Nick’s affair and emails Frances. Nick explains to both Frances and Melissa that he doesn’t want anything to change, meaning he wants to continue with Frances while keeping his marriage intact. Melissa senses Frances as a coping mechanism; she thinks the girl has brought light to Nick’s life. Melissa convinces herself that Frances, a young woman, has come to Nick’s rescue and that whatever they have between them is nothing but infatuation. A small fight ensues between Frances and Nick following the heated emails exchanged between them. Bobby, who was initially pleased with Melissa’s nature, also finds that both Nick and Melissa have used them. The relationships swing like a pendulum. Words hurt, and insignificant actions evoke strong emotions. Frances’ cold relationship with her drunkard father adds an extra layer of depth to her character.

Rooney’s writing is simple and lucid, with precise vocabulary. Although the book isn’t a page-turner, readers will find themselves immersed in the relationships between the characters. The author has made sure the characters grow by delving deep into their psyches. Each character has a well-defined relationship and a specific emotion with the other. Through Frances, Rooney highlights the fact that one lives in their mind before actually acting in the outside world. 

An introspective Frances reminds readers of their own insecurities, vulnerabilities, and the quest to find someone with whom every conversation is possible. Every single soul in this universe is shaped by conversations and relationships, and Sally Rooney has shown this very thing through the novel. 

This slow-paced book is for those who don’t seek events on every page. It’s also not for those who lack the patience to wait for things to make sense on their own in the end. By the time you finish reading the book, you’ll think about the fragility of relationships. You’ll wonder why, despite knowing a relationship isn’t going anywhere, a person still wants to draw inspiration from it.

(Gautam is a writer from Pokhara.)