Sophie's Choice by William Styron

Oh Sophie! What was your choice??

It was the reason I chose this book for my next read and was the reason I read this book around the clock until it was finally revealed at the near end of the novel.

So many times in conversations, in films, and in books, a Sophie's choice reference is made and the more I heard and didn't understand what was going on, the more I knew that this was a book I would have to read.

Although I always knew that it would be a decision between two terrible options, I couldn't help but hope that I had been wrong. I grew to love Sophie, all of her witty and zany and emotional ways.

I try to keep these book entries light and fun but even after having turned the last page many months ago, I still feel great sadness when I think of what she endured.

Her story was heart wrenching enough, but it also started be on a obsessive journey in to the world of the Holocaust. I read more books and watched all of the movies that I could on the subject. It was a dark time. A time that made me so thankful for how far we have come away from that hatred and terror. I understand that there is still wars and torture and evil in the world today, but I am happy that that chapter in history of what happened to the Jews is closed.

Now when I hear a reference to making a 'Sophie's choice' I cringe. No choice is a unbearable as the one she made and it pains me when people use the phrase lightly.

So that's it. It was well written and gut wrenching and definitely struck a chord with me. A chord that is still too sad to delve into any more than I just have.