Sally Rooney Not Accepting Offers to Adapt Third Book, Says ‘Normal People’ Media Attention and Discourse Felt Like “A Lot”

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As a devoted fan who has immersed myself in the captivating world of Sally Rooney, I must say her latest decision to steer clear from screen adaptations for now is both intriguing and respectable. It’s like watching a master painter decide to put down her brushes for a while, content with the beauty she’s already created on canvas.

Even though Sally Rooney has seen two of her novels become TV series, it’s unlikely that her third book will be made into a screen adaptation any time in the near future.

In an interview with The New York Times, the author of Normal People has chosen not to accept any proposals for adapting her 2021 third book, Beautiful World, Where Are You, due to the acclaimed adaptations of both Normal People and Conversations With Friends on BBC Three/Hulu.

Rooney has chosen thus far to decline all proposals for acquiring the book’s rights,” she shared with the media outlet. “I felt it was right to step back, give the book some space, and allow it to stand alone for a while.

Rooney, once labeled as a significant literary figure for her generation, often referred to as “the first notable millennial novelist” or “the contemporary Salinger,” gained critical recognition for her 2018 novel titled “Normal People“. The TV series, featuring Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones, garnered success upon its April 2020 debut, catapulting both actors to instant stardom.

Alice Birch served as the screenwriter for the series, with Lenny Abrahamson handling the directorial duties for the initial six episodes. Later on, Hettie Macdonald took over.

Although Rooney contributed to adapting her novel for the screen (her initial screenplay effort), she didn’t participate in adapting her 2017 book “Conversations With Friends,” which featured Alison Oliver, Joe Alwyn, Jemima Kirke and Sasha Lane, as she was engrossed in writing “Beautiful World, Where Are You” instead.

When inquired about her thoughts on contributing more towards the adaptation of the less popular novel compared to ‘Normal People’, Rooney stated that she hadn’t wished for such involvement.

Rooney explained that he decided to take a lesser role in the second adaptation as he was engrossed in writing his third novel, titled ‘Beautiful World, Where Are You.'” After this, he mused about the extensive work involved in the series and the subsequent public scrutiny it attracted.

Working on the initial project was truly astounding, primarily due to the incredible team involved. However, it was also a massive undertaking. Once the broadcast occurred, the ensuing discussion and media coverage were overwhelming. I began to realize that this environment wasn’t where I thrived. Instead, I found myself thinking, ‘Now I know my books are my true calling, and that’s all I want to focus on.’

On Tuesday, I’m thrilled to share that my eagerly awaited fourth novel, titled “Intermezzo“, will be unveiled. This story revolves around two brothers grappling with the grief of losing their father, all while navigating the complexities of romantic entanglements. As a fan and author, I can’t wait to immerse myself in this poignant narrative along with you!

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2024-09-23 20:55