I saw the movie Sophie’s Choice many years ago, and like most people, was deeply moved and disturbed by the experience. I have never watched it again, but have seen several discussions of the movie recently, leading me to realize that I had never read the book, which is somewhat unusual. So, I elected to remedy the situation.

I do not recall the details of the movie in enough specificity to say whether the movie accurately tracks with the book, but I’ve never heard otherwise, so will assume that it does. I do not remember most of the movie other than the “choice” and reading the book did not jog my memory in that regard.

I can only say that the book is extremely well written and I found it captivating. I was not prepared for the extremely sexually charged content, but was certainly not in any way put off by it. It could be an issue for some readers, but given the subject matter, if you can wade through Auschwitz, you can probably make it through a little (well, really a lot) of sex.

If you are getting ready to purchase this book, you have likely seen the movie, or at least are familiar with its subject matter. If not, be aware that it is perhaps the most disturbing account, though fictional, of events occurring during the Holocaust. And while fictional, many of the events likely occurred dozens, if not hundreds of times every day. It should be an emotional experience to read this book. If it is not, you have issues that need to be addressed. ( )

The story of Sophie, a holocaust survivor who has made her way to Brooklyn, NY. A complicated person in a relationship with Nathan who has his own issues. The story is told by Stingo who tells us the story of Sophie and Nathan. Styron uses a lot of archaic words that I needed to have a dictionary in order to look up these words. ( )

Sophie es una muchacha polaca, dulce y de pálida hermosura que vive en una casa de huéspedes del Brooklyn de los años cuarenta junto a Nathan, un joven judío obsesionado por el pasado, y Stingo, el tercero en discordia, un joven procedente del sur que llega convencido de que será un escritor de éxito. Tres personalidades que se relacionarán íntimamente en un ambiente en apariencia alegre y desenfadado después de la guerra que ha azotado al mundo durante seis años.

A Escolha de Sofia é um best-seller bom, absorvente e comovente, que comprime um triângulo de personagens em um sério, embora angustiante, estudo-jornada pelos cantos mais escuros e hediondos do século XX. Marcam-no uma abordagem compassiva e até um pouco de otimismo, no final. O resultado é uma obra respeitável, claustrofóbica e astuta que evoca o inferno no genocídio de Auschwitz e o subsequente purgatorio, já na terra de liberdade (Nova York). A escolha-título encerra o dogma de Sartre, "O inferno são os outros¨, a, quela frase da peça Huis Clos que, muitas vezes é entendida como uma simples modulação da igualmente famosa frase de Hobbes: “O homem é um lobo para o homem.¨ A escolha do titulo retrata, pois, um drama dentro da consciência, pelo qual Sofia se descobre exposta à arbitrariedade de Satã. No inferno de Sofia, a tortura não é física, mas sim mental: ela jamais poderá escapar do ¨julgamento¨ satânico. ( )

A bruisingly beautiful book that will leave you with questions about yourself and the nature of being human. A must read for every thinking human, even if through gritted teeth. ( )