Sophie's World-- honors book report

Gaarder, Jostein. Sophie's World. New York, New York. Berkley:1996.

I actually began reading this book in 9th grade. It was my graduation gift from my 8th grade teacher, who knew me very well. It is a fiction book on the history of philosophy. I really enjoyed it when I started it, but I did not finish it because I didn't have time to just sit down and read it until recently. The main body of the story takes place in Norway in the 1990s. However, the story line is not linear, and there are really two places in Norway it takes place.

The story begins with the main character, Sophie Amundsen, a 14 year old girl receiving strange letters about philosophy from someone she has never met. The man writing the letters, Alberto Knox, begins teaching Sophie the history of philosophy through these letters, and then later in person. They start with the Greek philosophers Plato, Aristotle and Socrates and by the end of the course, have reached the end of the 20th century after discussing Darwin, Freud and Marx. Throughout the course, however, Sophie continues receiving post cards addressed to Hilde Moller Knag from her father in Lebanon. Hilde also lives in Norway, but her father is in Lebanon as a soldier for the UN. In the process of trying to figure out why Sophie is receiving Hilde's mail, Alberto and Sophie discover that they are only characters in a book that Hilde's father, Albert Knag, is writing for Hilde's 15th birthday, which is the same day that Sophie turns 15. About 300 pages into the book, the reader meets Hilde as she receives the book on her birthday and starts reading it. She comes to the conclusion that she has to help Sophie and Alberto get back at her father for the tricks he played on them in the book. By the end of the story, Sophie and Alberto have escaped from the book, where they join the world of imaginary characters.

At the beginning of the book, Sophie Amundsen is a normal girl who does not discuss any philosophical questions, or even ever think about them. After meeting Alberto Knox, however, the world begins to open up to her. She starts asking questions and making realizations. However, by the end of the book, she not only understands the complicated nature of philosophy and its history, but also realizes that she herself is nothing more than character in some man's head.

I loved Sophie's World! It took me quite a while to finish it, but it taught be so much about our world and history. The philosophy lessons that Alberto gives Sophie were actually challenging to read and made me think. They taught me different views about morals, existence, God, and society. However, I don't think I'd recommend this book to most people. You would have to be an avid reader and be interested in philosophical questions to begin with. In a strange way, though, reading the book has the same effect on the reader that it does on Sophie. You learn about philosophy, and you end up wondering if maybe you are just a character in a book....

In some ways, I'd love to take Sophie's place. I do not want to find out that someone is writing me and my world from whatever comes up in their head, but getting philosophy lessons from Alberto sounds very cool. For the most part, I would handle the situation the same as Sophie, except that I probably wouldn't ask so many questions. I'm more of a thinking, rather than talking type. As for the ending, it was a bit odd. I just think that there are better ways of getting the point across about being a character in a book that needs to escape. I also wanted Sophie to meet Hilde in person and Albert Knag to get punished more for the tricks he played on Sophie and Alberto.

Jostein Gaarder wrote several other books apart from Sophie's World, including The Ringmaster's Daughter, The Orange Girl, The Solitaire Mystery, and Mya. Nearly all of his books focus around philosohpy, religion, or both, and all of them force the reader to ask questions as the author does the same. Gaarder caught my interest enough that I wouldn't be surprised if I read another one of his books, though it probably won't be for a while. I definitely want to pursue philosophy in college.