Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason

125 reviews

sarahreadsromance's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This book is heartbreaking… and also beautiful and also messy and also so very real.  It makes me sad, it makes me angry, but it also makes me hopeful and nostalgic, the original Greek.

I don’t know who said this book was funny.  I would not describe it as that.  It has humorous moments for sure, but on the whole this is not an “extremely funny” book. 

I loved it and I think you should read it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Cursing, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Grief, Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

accam212's review

challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Abortion, Alcoholism, Addiction, and Self harm

ashleyjean6's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is a difficult read that is also potentially extremely triggering. It is about a fictitious mental illness, but it's effects are very real and raw. If that sounds like it would not make for 5 star fiction, it does. Although bleak it is not without hope and it is absolutely gorgeously written! The audiobook is also beautifully narrated. Highly recommend! Definitely a top book this year, maybe period. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Grief, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Classism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Alcohol, Racism, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

racheljiyoungshin's review

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Alcohol, Mental illness, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Miscarriage, Alcoholism, Grief, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse

megh_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness

Moderate: Alcoholism and Miscarriage

elizabethwb's review

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide attempt

anniesher23's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this book so much! I think my favorite part was how great of an unreliable narrator Martha is, even about her own character, relationships, and deepest desires. Learning more and more as the book goes on is so captivating and beautiful. 

Martha’s development feels earned and real. I was impressed at how, even at her worst, I felt and understood her anger. Then I felt her shame and remorse. And when she puts in the work to repair her relationships, she is held accountable, and her loved ones are too. 

As a side note, I think this is a really important book within the context of mental health/treatment and reproductive justice.

This book is so heartbreaking, but it’s also hopeful. I love how much love there is in this story 🤍

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Death, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Abortion

laura7l's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Mental illness

Minor: Alcoholism

crazytourists_books's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I can't believe I ended up liking this book. 
I did struggle at first, with the narration style, I found it kind of juvenile and obnoxious, and that feeling lasted for quite a while; for about one-third of the book. Every few pages I was contemplating about stopping reading. And then it kind of fell into place and the narration made sense, and I started to be submerged in the story. Up until the diagnosis paragraph where the actual diagnosis is withheld and dashes are put in ita name. I don't get it. It's the kind of thing that perpetuates the shame and stigma, not naming what we fear. The specifics weren't needed; if the structure of the story was a bit different, I think the author could get away with all this mess. And then comes the end, which I quite liked, and the characters are still in pain but have grown, and it's not overly happy, which is a good thing. It is rather real. 
So, an experience with its ups and downs, but on the positive side in the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Addiction, Grief, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness

rakkaussipsi's review against another edition

emotional sad

• Loveable characters? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse