Christopher Beha - What Happened to Sophie Wilder

I am easily hooked by books about writing. What Happened to Sophie Wilder is a good one. Christopher Beha deals with why people write fiction, how they write, and the love of reading. But, he also digs into family, love, betrayal, and unthinkable actions. Quite unusual for young writers today, he also links all of this with one character's brief encounter with religious faith. This is done with a deft and light touch, largely from the perspective of the friends on the outside of the experience. What Happened is the story of three friends who have high artistic aspirations during college. After graduation they separate. Charlie and his cousin live the alcohol soaked life of intelligentsia-wanna-be's in NYC, and Sophie lands in an unlikely marriage. They have not yet truly found the level of achievement that they have been passionate about, and some keep trying. The human aspect of the novel really gains traction after Sophie accidentally discovers her father-in-law, who she was told was long dead. She then awkwardly cares for him in a serious illness. This material is a lot to work with, and Beha does pull it off. There are some "first novel" weaknesses, but they can be overlooked given the high challenges Beha set for himself. The ending of the book borrows from a Richard Brautigan motif, which some might find too "writers' workshop-ish", but I enjoyed. Write, read.