A Reflection of Sophie Beaumont
A Reflection of Sophie Beaumont
By L M Barrett
https://www.amazon.com/Reflection-Sophie-Beaumont-L-Barrett-ebook/dp/B077QQ5RH4/
I enjoyed this book, and I was surprised because it isn't normally the kind of book I would choose to read. This is a good first novel and the author has a clear grasp of the genesis of a personality disorder. The characterizations are very strong, and it really plays with your sympathies for the main character, one minute feeling bad for her and one minute hating her, in awe of how shallow and manipulative she can be. I, not being British, particularly enjoyed the use of British expressions (not really sure if they are how people talk in the UK or if they are the author's original metaphors, phrases like "bee stung lips").
My only issue with the book is that it did start to get a little tedious around the middle. By this time, we know already that the character has some sort of personality disorder and her poor fiance is oblivious to the fact that he's being used, but it keeps switching back and forth between their point of view and the events depicted start to get a little mundane, making the same point over and over about how evil she is. Without spoiling anything or saying the charachter's name, I'll say also that the main antagonist in the book does seem just a bit over the top in his villainy. What makes the Sophie character as compelling as she is is that you can see how the events of her life forced her to become the way she is and how she's doing the best she can, and even has moments of subtle warmth. That nuance though is missing in the antagonist and he just seems unrealistically monstrous. It violates just a little too much the writer's commandment that what makes for good drama is not right versus wrong, but right versus right.
Overall, this is a 3.5/5 book. You won't learn much from it or change your view on anything, but if you like light reading, this is some with a well constructed plot, strong characterizations, clear writing, and enough sex to hold your interest (if that's why you bought it), and a bit of a tragic twist at the end. It won't bore you and would be a good choice for downloading to your kindle to read on a plane.
My rating: 3.5/5
By L M Barrett
https://www.amazon.com/Reflection-Sophie-Beaumont-L-Barrett-ebook/dp/B077QQ5RH4/
A Reflection of Sophie Beaumont begins with the title character's suicide and then proceeds in a Citizen Kane-like manner as we follow her husband, Richard, trying to figure out what led his seemingly perfect spouse to abandon her loving family and end her trouble free life. The point of view alternates between Sophie and Richard as we walk from her childhood to the day of her death.
I enjoyed this book, and I was surprised because it isn't normally the kind of book I would choose to read. This is a good first novel and the author has a clear grasp of the genesis of a personality disorder. The characterizations are very strong, and it really plays with your sympathies for the main character, one minute feeling bad for her and one minute hating her, in awe of how shallow and manipulative she can be. I, not being British, particularly enjoyed the use of British expressions (not really sure if they are how people talk in the UK or if they are the author's original metaphors, phrases like "bee stung lips").
My only issue with the book is that it did start to get a little tedious around the middle. By this time, we know already that the character has some sort of personality disorder and her poor fiance is oblivious to the fact that he's being used, but it keeps switching back and forth between their point of view and the events depicted start to get a little mundane, making the same point over and over about how evil she is. Without spoiling anything or saying the charachter's name, I'll say also that the main antagonist in the book does seem just a bit over the top in his villainy. What makes the Sophie character as compelling as she is is that you can see how the events of her life forced her to become the way she is and how she's doing the best she can, and even has moments of subtle warmth. That nuance though is missing in the antagonist and he just seems unrealistically monstrous. It violates just a little too much the writer's commandment that what makes for good drama is not right versus wrong, but right versus right.
Overall, this is a 3.5/5 book. You won't learn much from it or change your view on anything, but if you like light reading, this is some with a well constructed plot, strong characterizations, clear writing, and enough sex to hold your interest (if that's why you bought it), and a bit of a tragic twist at the end. It won't bore you and would be a good choice for downloading to your kindle to read on a plane.
My rating: 3.5/5
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