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A review by bookbowlchallenge
Sophie's Choice by William Styron
2.0
I can’t decide if I don’t like Styron or maybe I just don’t like Stingo.
Stingo is a pretentious writer with such a high opinion of himself that he spends most of the book mocking other writers (they are awful compared to his incredible skills), complaining about women (he is such a catch, why aren’t any of these women interested in him, doesn’t he DESERVE them?), and dismissing his own family (going back to the south is beneath him). Now, I try not to dislike a book just because I don’t agree with the main character. However, self-absorbed Stingo permeated every page and every plotline (even plotlines of other characters) so much that my distaste for him completely took over.
This book had incredible potential. In the hands of a talented storyteller, this would have been the heartbreaking, tearjerker that it should have been. When I think about Sophie’s story and her impossible choice, it devastates me. But when I was in real-time, flipping the pages, no emotions came to me other than annoyance. And this is coming from someone who cries at EVERYTHING. Immediately after the big reveal of ‘Sophie’s Choice’, Stingo launches into his own rationalization which treads very near to exoneration. Styron needed to let the reveal hang in the air, soak in. But no. Enter Stingo. Again.
Sophie has two main traits: hot and self-loathing. Of course, who wouldn’t be self-loathing in her situation. But Stingo makes sure that we fully understand how hot (and simultaneously emaciated?) she is. Sophie could be great written by a more conscientious writer.
Positives: Nathan is a well-written narcissistic abuser. His highs are high, filled to the brim with charm and charisma. His lows are low with verbal and physical abuse and manipulation. I’ve known people like this. It was terrifying and realistic.
Had the character of Sophie and her storyline not been filtered through the lens of the unbearable Stingo, I think I would have loved this book. Cut out Stingo entirely, flesh out Sophie and the holocaust storyline and THEN, I would agree that we have a literary masterpiece on our hands. As it stands today, not so much.
2/5
#bookbowlchallenge
Stingo is a pretentious writer with such a high opinion of himself that he spends most of the book mocking other writers (they are awful compared to his incredible skills), complaining about women (he is such a catch, why aren’t any of these women interested in him, doesn’t he DESERVE them?), and dismissing his own family (going back to the south is beneath him). Now, I try not to dislike a book just because I don’t agree with the main character. However, self-absorbed Stingo permeated every page and every plotline (even plotlines of other characters) so much that my distaste for him completely took over.
This book had incredible potential. In the hands of a talented storyteller, this would have been the heartbreaking, tearjerker that it should have been. When I think about Sophie’s story and her impossible choice, it devastates me. But when I was in real-time, flipping the pages, no emotions came to me other than annoyance. And this is coming from someone who cries at EVERYTHING. Immediately after the big reveal of ‘Sophie’s Choice’, Stingo launches into his own rationalization which treads very near to exoneration. Styron needed to let the reveal hang in the air, soak in. But no. Enter Stingo. Again.
Sophie has two main traits: hot and self-loathing. Of course, who wouldn’t be self-loathing in her situation. But Stingo makes sure that we fully understand how hot (and simultaneously emaciated?) she is. Sophie could be great written by a more conscientious writer.
Positives: Nathan is a well-written narcissistic abuser. His highs are high, filled to the brim with charm and charisma. His lows are low with verbal and physical abuse and manipulation. I’ve known people like this. It was terrifying and realistic.
Had the character of Sophie and her storyline not been filtered through the lens of the unbearable Stingo, I think I would have loved this book. Cut out Stingo entirely, flesh out Sophie and the holocaust storyline and THEN, I would agree that we have a literary masterpiece on our hands. As it stands today, not so much.
2/5
#bookbowlchallenge