Sophie's Choice

Sophie's Choice (1979) by William Styron. Set in New York in 1947, in the wake of World War II, Sophie's Choice tells the story of Stingo, a young man just starting his career as a writer, and of Sophie and Nathan, a couple he meets in his boardinghouse. The book really is Sophie's story, though. She's a Polish survivor of Auschwitz, and now, living in New York, she is struggling with what we now know as survivor's guilt. This book is a true masterpiece, combining elements of war and the Holocaust with stories of Stingo and his sexual frustration. And always, at the center of the story, is Sophie, a beautiful woman carrying a burden of guilt that ultimately she cannot bear. Styron's writing is simply stunning in its power and beauty. This is a book worth rereading, even though the first time through is bound to be the most powerful. Grade: A

Long Drive Home

Long Drive Home (2011) by Will Allison. Protagonist Glen Bauer, driving down the street on his way home one day, makes a small mistake that mushrooms into the biggest hassle of his life. When confronted by a careless driver, Glen makes a quick jerk of his steering wheel, meant to scare the other driver and teach him a lesson. Instead, the other driver ends up dead. Glen makes bad decision after bad decision, lying consistently to everyone he encounters about what happened, and ends up pretty much losing everything. It's a cautionary tale and a commentary on life in modern times, but it's also a quick and entertaining read. Grade: B+

I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive

I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive (2011) by Steve Earle. Doc, a washed-up, disbarred doctor who has given his life over to his drug addiction, is haunted by the ghost of Hank Williams. He is also possessed by the spirit of Graciela, a young Mexican immigrant who seems to have miraculous powers of healing. When Graciela comes into his life, Doc is transformed, and finds a form of redemption before he dies. I found this novel to be a wonderful evocation of a place and time which I never could have visited had I not read this book. It is also beautifully written, with many a poetic turn of phrase and usually just the right word at the right time. I highly recommend it. Grade: A

In Zanesville

In Zanesville (2011) by Jo Ann Beard. This is a rather entertaining book about a teenage girl's struggles during a brief period in the 1970s. She lives in the smallish town of Zanesville, Illinois, and it is on this stage that she acts out her drama. It consists mostly of a fight with her girlfriend, Felicia, after the two of them go to a party with the popular kids in school. The gist of the novel is in the details, however, beautifully reproduced portraits of our heroine's mother, her drunk father, her sister and her little brother. By the time the novel is done, you feel like you know them; and although you might not choose to hang out with them, they are familiar. Not much of pith and moment happens, but it is a pleasant journey, getting to know these characters. Grade: B

Mule

Mule (2011) by Tony D'Souza. Remarkable, propulsive novel about a man named James Lasseter who, done in by the economy's crash in 2007, becomes a drug mule to keep his head above water financially. He stumbles across a source of excellent weed while living in the mountains of northern California, and then, after driving some of the dope to Florida, chances upon a man there who can "take his weight," i.e. accept and sell his marijuana. From the beginning, Lasseter's course seems pre-ordained. He gets in deeper and deeper, moving more and more weight, until he finally has a crew of mules working for him. Eventually, he descends to murder. This novel has the feel of authenticity about it, as if D'Souza had experienced what he is writing about. It definitely keeps moving, with scarcely a dull moment. I found it to be a most enjoyable read. Grade: A-