Gray Areas of Character Complexity

On this episode of the PAW Book Club podcast, we speak with Sash Bischoff from Princeton’s Class of 2009 about her debut novel and our latest book club read, “Sweet Fury.” From the very first page, “Sweet Fury” takes the work of F. Scott Fitzgerald, famously of Princeton’s Class of 1917, and begins to play. A famous actress and film director, characters named Lila and Kurt, are collaborating on a feminist adaptation of “Tender is The Night.” Then into the mix strides a psychotherapist named Jonah, a character awfully similar to Jay Gatsby. The story unfolds in some surprisingly dark directions, including one disturbing scene set at a Princeton eating club, and prospective readers should note that this podcast will contain spoilers as we probe the ideas and intentions that ran through Sash’s head as she wove this story, building up her characters — and destroying some in the end.