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lettersinthemargins's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a story for and about those of us who trample upon the world lightly, afraid to draw attention. Those of us who try to make ourselves as small as possible. Because, from the days of child-height we believe those that said we might be better not having been born, that we have been a burden, that we might be children who demanded too much and took a lot of time. So we live our adult levelled days trying to fight existence and cruelty and injustice because that's the only fucking way it might be alright to live within the sadnesses of the world and find a place there.
Except, she also has an uncanny sense of humour that peels away the skin from my heart because you, the reader know and understand that kind of sadness. The story of Martha is a story of kindness towards others and to oneself - something that mental illness treads upon softly.
I stumbled upon this book on Kindle. And a review somewhere mentioned it's a perfect mix of Sally Rooney like love and longing, Patricia Lockwood like tech details and Fleabag humour. It is. Except sometimes, the dark jokes bit into the palm of my hands. It is the story of Martha, her sister, and their dysfunctional family - which extends to a semblance of functionality provided by Winsome, their mother's sister and her family. The story shifts back and forth in time. Many Christmases are mentioned. In one of them, Patrick - her future husband makes an appearance and then stays.
At some point in the story, I had to stop because Patrick's stillness made me cry. Added to it was Martha's madness with her kindness. There are moments of pure beauty here because I believe that it takes some amount of shitty mental health to really understand pristine beauty. However problematic that may be. I think that's what the "Bliss" in the novel signifies.
I love this most, for the letter her mother writes, for her moments by the window with the leafless tree, trying to write, and for all the moments of love between Patrick and her. I also love it for Ingrid and her father, and for Winsome and the normalcies, we hold onto within a turbulent mind. I love it most for the empathy and kind dark humour that Meg Mason has written this story of madness and love, sorrow, anger and bliss.
Read for Patrick and interspersed bits of poetry within the madness.
I stumbled upon this book on Kindle. And a review somewhere mentioned it's a perfect mix of Sally Rooney like love and longing, Patricia Lockwood like tech details and Fleabag humour. It is. Except sometimes, the dark jokes bit into the palm of my hands. It is the story of Martha, her sister, and their dysfunctional family - which extends to a semblance of functionality provided by Winsome, their mother's sister and her family. The story shifts back and forth in time. Many Christmases are mentioned. In one of them, Patrick - her future husband makes an appearance and then stays.
At some point in the story, I had to stop because Patrick's stillness made me cry. Added to it was Martha's madness with her kindness. There are moments of pure beauty here because I believe that it takes some amount of shitty mental health to really understand pristine beauty. However problematic that may be. I think that's what the "Bliss" in the novel signifies.
I love this most, for the letter her mother writes, for her moments by the window with the leafless tree, trying to write, and for all the moments of love between Patrick and her. I also love it for Ingrid and her father, and for Winsome and the normalcies, we hold onto within a turbulent mind. I love it most for the empathy and kind dark humour that Meg Mason has written this story of madness and love, sorrow, anger and bliss.
Read for Patrick and interspersed bits of poetry within the madness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Grief, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
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