the life and death of sophie stark by anna north

Knowing Sophie was never easy being related to her even less so, particularly when Sophie began stalking one of the most popular boys in school - with a camera. Their father was dead and their mother 'young and sad and indecisive'. The Story is then taken up by Robbie, the brother brought up by Sophie, although the reverse might also have been true. The connection wasn't purely professional and Allison recalls how they became lovers. She'd originally encountered Sophie when she was telling a story at a club and Sophie spotted her potential as an actress. Allison would later say that the months before Sophie came back to her were some of the happiest in her life. Knowing genius must be a privilege, but it would be difficult for these people to feel that the privilege balanced out the negative effects of knowing Sophie Stark. Her story is told be the six people who loved her most, but who were the ones most affected by her life.

She was a genius when it came to making movies, but genius scythes through other people in pursuit of perfection, leaving disaster casually in its wake and Sophie was no exception to that rule. She didn't know that she wanted to become a film director either, but that is what she evolved into as she fought being the one who was different, as she tried to fit in but found that making movies actually drove her away from people. Sophie Stark wasn't born Sophie Stark - that's the person she decided to become. Brilliant writing and a great story: highly recommended. Summary: The life of a genius as told by the people who loved her most - and suffered most at her hands.

The life and death of sophie stark by anna north