Sophie's Choice - Flawed Beauty?

I needed a few months of separation to appreciate this work. Styron's style was captivating to me. His words kept me glued to the book despite walking through Grand Central Terminal during morning rush. I didn't care because I was so in love with the "writer searching for his true purpose"story. Sorry to my fellow morning commuters, Billy has my mind.

Now, Sophie...she's beautiful...she's so beautiful. Her beauty was such a focal point to her personality that I injected my bias towards her. Unable to acknowledge that she, like many "beautiful" people, is like an onion - multi-layered.

It took me a long time to like this story because I did not understand why this beautiful woman would subject herself to such an abusive boyfriend, Nathan. Styron does a fantastic job in masking Nathan's mental illness.

So, my coworker told what Sophie's choice was before I actually got to the part. Styron takes about 400+pages to reveal her pain. Geesh! What a choice!

I was disappointed with the ending of the book. I felt it made Sophie seem pathetic. Perhaps, I wanted Sophie to be "flawless" like the narrator.

The Sheltering Sky

I'm behind schedule because of this book. I read two pages and then I get sleepy. Granted, I've been working 60+ hours a week but geez, this book is slow. I will push through...Algeria, here I come!

The Ginger Man: If Only Sebastian Was a Reality TV Star

The Ginger Man is a picaresque novel...picaresque, what the heck does that mean? According to dictionary.com, it means "characteristic of a form of prose fiction, originally developed in Spain, in which the adventures of an engagingly roguish hero are described in a series of usually humorous or satiric episodes that often depict, in realistic detail, the everyday life of the common people."

I have to admit Sebastian's misadventures made my commute very entertaining. Some moments I despised him (especially when he hit Marion, his wife) and there were moments when I rooted for him. He's a scoundrel and a bastard. So, why do I like this bastard?

Sebastian is a man who seeks to be a successful lawyer yet does not want to study for his exams. He wants to be rich but refuses to work towards this goal instead chooses to swindle women.

I'm a huge fan of reality TV shows. Many of these reality TV stars are popular and rich for doing nothing. Actually, if a show depicted Sebastian's shenanigans, it would be a smashing success. However, on paper (or Kindle if you are tech-savvy), he is a bastard.

Well, I propose that Sebastian Dangerfield needs his own show. Do you think that Sebastian would be more sympathetic if he was a reality TV show star?

Sidenote: Thank you, J.P. Donleavy, for this wonderful character and book.

The Magnificent Ambersons: Did GAM have an Oedipus Complex?

GAM had an odd relationship with his mother, Isabel, but I do not think it was on the level of Oedipus complex. I believe that he was SO afraid of change that he was willing to impede his mother's happiness. It was so gut-wrenching to read Isabel's last words, "Just one more time," referring to Eugene Morgan. I kept thinking, "Gosh, GAM is such a selfish bastard!" Then, my next thought was "Why didn't Isabel fight for her own happiness?"

So, I ask you...do you think GAM had an Oedipus complex?

The Magnificent Ambersons: Being vs. Doing

As I read The Magnificent Ambersons, I wondered why I had a distaste for George Amberson Minafer (GAM). Instead of being proactive and participating in life, GAM was content in "being" an Amberson. Despite the obvious changes in his town, especially in that era, he wanted to be complacent and not evolve.

So, why did I dislike him so much? Hrm, I think it is because I see myself in GAM. Many times, particularly in law school, where I relied my previous job experience as an excuse in not participating in extracurricular activities. For example, I did not join any Moot Court or Clinics because I was a "paralegal at a big firm and managed a high-profile trial." I made the same choice as GAM in that I chose to be instead do.

Being a doer in life involves risks and that is pretty scary. I guess the most lesson that I learned from this book is life gives you two choices: be or do...which one will you choose?

Challenge

If you are reading this, you are about to embark on a rewarding challenge. My goal is to read Modern Library's Board's List of Top 100 Novels in one year. Yes, one year! So, by December 8th, 2011, I should be finishing James Joyce's Ulysses.