Mr Salary by Sally Rooney
Published by Faber & Faber, 2019
My rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
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I was starting to feel like the only person in the bookish community yet to try author-of-the-moment, Sally Rooney. Seeing that she had a short story published as part of the recent Faber Stories series (small and inexpensive volumes released to mark their 90th anniversary), I jumped at the chance to sample her narrative voice. Having now done so, I fully understand the hype.
Being so brief, I won’t go into any specifics regarding plot. But I will say that I was greatly impressed by Rooney’s deceptively simple yet shrewdly observant look at the power dynamic between our central characters – a woman in her early 20s, and a man in his late 30s. From the very first page, I had a clear sense of who these people were as individuals, and the nature of the relationship between them. The tone was almost voyeuristic, and it worked so well.
What’s really interesting, looking through reviews, is the split between those who find Sukie and Nathan’s relationship charming, and those who find it toxic. This discrepancy, and the ability to interpret things so differently is, I think, very deliberate. It reflects the uncertainty that the characters themselves feel about succumbing to the sexual tension between them, and is testament to Rooney’s deft yet subtle execution.
With Sukie also dealing with her father’s illness, this became, to me, a fascinating rumination on the parallel between being on the brink of love, and being in the presence of impending death; and how a closeness to both can blind us to reality. If this is what she can do with a short story, I can’t wait to try one of Rooney’s novels.
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If you fancy picking up a copy of Mr Salary, you can find it on Book Depository with free international shipping by clicking here. If you’ve already read it, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Callum McLaughlin 
Ahh yay I’m so glad you enjoyed your first Rooney! I ordered this and a couple of the other Faber short stories and I’m still impatiently waiting for them to arrive. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on her novels!
If this is a good example of the standard within the Faber Stories range, I’ll certainly be picking up more! I got the Sylvia Plath one at the same time as this, so I’ll hopefully give that a try soon.
I’m so hyped for Rooney’s novels now! Do you recommend starting with a particular one? A few reviews said Mr Salary has a similar vibe to Conversations with Friends, so I’m thinking maybe that one?
Very excited to see what you think of the Sylvia Plath – I didn’t end up getting that one because I was already ordering 4 others and I thought I should limit myself, but I do want to get it at some point, maybe after I finally read Ariel.
It’s funny because I’ve been noticing that people tend to STRONGLY prefer one of her novels over the other, but they were both solidly 5 stars for me. I’m definitely team Conversations With Friends if I have to choose, but even assuming that’s also the case for you I’m not sure which I’d recommend, reading the better one first to hook you, or saving the best for last? I read Normal People first and I was happy with reading them in that order, for what it’s worth!
True; it’s strange that most people seem to favour one so strongly over the other. I think I’m leaning towards Conversations first at the moment, but we’ll see what happens next time I’m in a bookshop 😂
I absolutely support that decision 👌
Just started reading Conversations with Friends… if I like her, I’ll read more 🙂
I think short stories are a great way to ‘sample’ an author.
I hope you enjoy it! I think that’s probably the first of her novels that I’ll try.
I have a library reservation on Normal People too, but I really don’t like the cover (people like sardines in a tin) and that kind of puts me off!
I’m not overly keen on it either, actually. They say don’t judge a book by its cover, but we all do it! 😂
These are a great wsy to try out new authors, aren’t they? I’ll be interested to hear what you think of her novels if you get to them. I loved one and wasn’t fussed on the other 😊
They really are; I can see myself trying out quite a few from the series! 😊
That’s interesting! Most people who’ve tried both seem to have a strong preference for one over the other. Which was is that you preferred?
I preferred Conversations with Friends. I was disappointed with Normal People but I realise I’m in the minority on that one!
I was thinking of starting with Conversations with Friends, as I saw a few people comparing its tone to that of Mr Salary, so hopefully I’ll get on with that one too 😊
Well…. You’re not the only one who hasn’t tried out Sally Rooney.. I’m still in the dark. Ha ha! Sounds like an interesting narrative!
At least I’m not alone! 😋 This was a great little taster of her style, so I’m excited to try one of her novels now!
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