Things aren’t going well for Sophie. Her husband has unceremoniously kicked her out: While she was in the shower, he announced his desire to be done with her. But, embarrassingly, he’s now her landlord. The sad, cold flat she returns to each night is his investment property.
Work is OK, she supposes. Sophie is an audio tech for live events, the cornerstone of which is an annual book festival. Freelancing throughout the year isn’t glamorous, but it pays her bills. Her colleagues at the book festival don’t appreciate the authors they’re surrounded by, and the authors—or “the Talent”—don’t notice the work Sophie and her crew do. She doesn’t really mind being in the background, though.
Sophie has near-daily FaceTime calls with her brother. They’re the only surviving members of their family, and their bond is precious. Besides that, she has her books (though they’re currently stored in her ex’s garage). Sophie reads voraciously, and she dreams of what might happen if her favorite author appeared at the festival—and then, she does, and through the events that follow, Sophie begins to discover that her own story has value.
Meg Mason (Sorrow and Bliss) sprinkles literary references throughout the pages of Sophie, Standing There. Sophie’s brother is Laurie, his wife, Jo. Real authors are named as festival attendees, though their antics are imagined, as is Sophie’s favorite author. Reading brings life to our protagonist, and it becomes a point of connection and friction alike with people around her.
Mason paints a vivid world, from Sophie’s glum flat to the cast of characters at the festival. Sophie, Standing There is a tribute to literature, relationships and the power of owning one’s experiences.