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Sophie’s Choice

William Styron

Start date: July 1, 2024

Finish date: July 31, 2024

Discussion: New School Classics- 1915-2005

Why we're reading this: July 2024 New School Classic Group Read
[close] July 2024 New School Classic Group Read

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New School Classics- 1915-2005

The Stepford Wives - Spoilers
By Lynn , New School Classics · 16 posts · 45 views

last updated Sep 29, 2025 01:54PM

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last updated Sep 15, 2025 11:39AM

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What Members Thought

Aug 31, 2014 Franky rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, holocaust, historical-fiction, history

I am sort of divided about this reading experience. While the story and flashbacks to Sophie’s traumatic experiences of the Holocaust hold some emotional sway and power, I thought that both the characters and the many digressions and asides from Stingo lessened the impact of the book. Stingo’s rants and asides about his lust for Sophie and other women were mildly amusing at first, but became more tiresome and distracting as the book progressed.

The characters were a bit lackluster, in my opinion ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Mar 02, 2013 Peggy rated it it was amazing

This book deserves and requires time and slow reading. The novel is packed in detail. It's been so promoted and adulated that the reader may make the mistake of thinking that it is easy or plot driven. No. The story is painstakingly presented in the way that a new friend's life story is presented over time, with errors, omissions, and deliberate misrepresentations gradually corrected as trust grows. A painful, difficult, laborious meditation on evil, on love, on joy, but worth the commitment. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jul 20, 2014 Jim rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I’m not going to write much of a review here as I don’t want to ruin the book for the (very) few folks who haven’t read it. I will say it is one of the most beautifully written books I have ever read. Styron expertly weaves different strands of the story into a whole more efficiently and seamlessly than almost anyone I can think of.

The message of the book is not particularly subtle, nor should it be given the subject matter. It almost requires you to realize within the first few pages what he is ...more

2 likes · Like · see review