Sophie’s Choice

by William Styron
Sophie’s Choice cover
Good Books rating 4.12
Technical
  • ID: 5509
  • Added: 2025-10-24
  • Updated: 2025-10-24
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
fully-booked.ca · Unknown · 2025-10-24
mixed 3.00

The reviewer found Jennifer Egan's 'A Visit from the Goon Squad' to be a unique and compelling literary work, praising its gritty tone and exploration of taboo topics. However, they struggled with the lack of a cohesive plot and the overwhelming number of characters, ultimately rating it 3 out of 5.

The reviewer was initially drawn to 'A Visit from the Goon Squad' by its reputation and the author's charm. They appreciated the novel's gritty, film noir style and its exploration of taboo topics like drug use, mental illness, and suicide. The book's unique structure, which shifts between different characters and time periods, was both a strength and a weakness. While the reviewer found the stories compelling and the prose beautiful, they struggled with the lack of a cohesive plot and the large number of characters, which made it difficult to follow. The reviewer also felt that the book lacked the redemption promised in the cover summary, finding the characters' journeys unsatisfying. Despite these criticisms, the reviewer acknowledged the book's literary merit and its ability to generate buzz, ultimately rating it 3 out of 5.

Quick quotes

    Structural dissatisfaction: Returning to circumstances that once pleased you, after having experienced a more thrilling or opulent way of life, and finding that you can no longer tolerate them.

    Time’s a goon, right? You gonna let that goon push you around?

    I was impressed by the complex point of views, character, and mixing of culture and social taboos but I can’t say that I particularly enjoyed the book.

samannelizabeth.wordpress.com · Unknown · 2023-02-13
enjoyable 4.00

The reviewer found 'A Visit From The Goon Squad' to be an enjoyable and effortless read, praising Jennifer Egan's warm, witty, and wise writing style. The novel's exploration of an ensemble cast through time and perspective was particularly appreciated, with some chapters standing out as highlights. The reviewer also commended Egan's experiments with form and viewpoint, which were executed skillfully and contributed to the novel's overall appeal.

The reviewer was impressed by Jennifer Egan's 'A Visit From The Goon Squad', finding it to be one of the more enjoyable and effortless books they've read this year. The novel's exploration of an ensemble cast through time and perspective was particularly praised, with the reviewer noting that the story unfolds at a fair clip and is effortless to read. Egan's warm, witty, and wise writing style was highlighted as a key strength of the novel, as was her ability to create a slight Rashomon effect through shifts in perspective. The reviewer also commended Egan's experiments with form and viewpoint, which were executed skillfully and contributed to the novel's overall appeal. Some chapters, such as Jules' deconstructive celebrity profile and the second-person narrative of Bobby, were singled out as highlights. The reviewer concluded that the novel is a work possessed of an extraordinary reserve of empathy that pulls off an incredibly audacious idea and makes it look easy to boot.

Quick quotes

    I’m always happy,” Sasha said. “Sometimes I just forget.

    Like all failed experiments, that one taught me something I didn’t expect: one key ingredient of so-called experience is the delusional faith that it is unique and special, that those included in it are privileged and those excluded from it are missing out.

    The pause makes you think the song will end. And then the song isn’t really over, so you’re relieved. But then the song does actually end, because every song ends, obviously, and THAT. TIME. THE. END. IS. FOR. REAL.

readingmattersblog.com · Unknown · 2018-03-31
rave 5.00

The reviewer found Jennifer Egan's A Visit from the Goon Squad intelligent and engaging, praising its complex characters and unique narrative style. They recommend reading it before The Candy House and found the book's themes of time and promotion compelling.

The reviewer returned to Jennifer Egan's A Visit from the Goon Squad after enjoying The Candy House and was impressed by the connections between the two books. They recommend reading this book first to determine if you enjoy Egan's writing style and characterisation. The reviewer found the characters complex and flawed, and the narrative engaging, with literary games that drew them deeper into the stories. They appreciated the book's themes of time and promotion, particularly the prescient take on influencers in the final chapter. The reviewer rarely reads books a second time, but found this one as smart and exciting as the first time, leading to a rave review.

Quick quotes

    I found this book intelligent and engaging.

    I didn’t mind that tone at all: feeling like laughing at the characters and then not feeling that I should and so forth.

    I rarely read books a second time, so to have done so and found the writing as smart and exciting as I first did means that this is a *rave* review.

hogglestock.com · Unknown · 2010-08-10
harrowing 4.50

Sophie's Choice by William Styron is a powerful and haunting novel that explores the devastating effects of the Holocaust on a young Polish woman. The story is told through the eyes of a narrator who becomes entangled in the lives of Sophie and her two friends, Nathan and Stingo. The novel is a profound exploration of guilt, trauma, and the human capacity for both cruelty and compassion.

Sophie's Choice is a deeply moving and emotionally charged novel that delves into the psychological and emotional scars left by the Holocaust. The story revolves around Sophie, a Polish woman who survives the concentration camps but is haunted by a choice she was forced to make. The narrative is framed through the perspective of a young writer, Stingo, who befriends Sophie and her volatile lover, Nathan. Through their interactions, the novel explores themes of guilt, survival, and the enduring impact of trauma. The characters are complex and deeply human, making their struggles and triumphs all the more poignant. The novel's exploration of moral dilemmas and the human condition is both harrowing and enlightening, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

Quick quotes

    The novel is a profound exploration of guilt, trauma, and the human capacity for both cruelty and compassion.

    The characters are complex and deeply human, making their struggles and triumphs all the more poignant.

    The novel's exploration of moral dilemmas and the human condition is both harrowing and enlightening, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

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