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carla_reads_books's review
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide attempt
liljes's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I love this book it’s beautiful with such fleshed out, distinct characters, a harrowing, painfully accurate portrayal of mental illness softened gently by lighthearted, funny, human moments. Love love love!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
savvylit's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The best aspect of Sorrow and Bliss is the way that Mason portrays the personal significance of receiving an accurate mental health diagnosis. Martha, the main character, spends the majority of this novel struggling with her mental illness. She has deep depressive episodes. She tries multiple medications. The relief at finally knowing her (unnamed to readers) diagnosis was both palpable and powerful.
A difficult thing about this novel is that Martha uses her mental health struggles as an excuse to be genuinely rude and cruel to her loved ones. Especially her husband. Though eventually she realizes she's actually an asshole outside of her diagnosis, it was excruciating to experience Martha being needlessly mean-spirited.
Overall, I liked Sorrow and Bliss and following Martha's journey. The whole novel felt really realistic, even (and especially) in its most unlikeable moments.
A difficult thing about this novel is that Martha uses her mental health struggles as an excuse to be genuinely rude and cruel to her loved ones. Especially her husband. Though eventually she realizes she's actually an asshole outside of her diagnosis, it was excruciating to experience Martha being needlessly mean-spirited.
Overall, I liked Sorrow and Bliss and following Martha's journey. The whole novel felt really realistic, even (and especially) in its most unlikeable moments.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Pregnancy
s_salako's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is a weird one to try to sum up in a review. I appreciated the commentary on mental health and how it affects many/all areas of life - how we view ourselves, others, and how it can sometimes make or break relationships and the things that are most important. I do think that Martha’s condition was somewhat extreme, as was Patrick’s passivity. If he truly loved her that much and knew something was wrong, I believe he would’ve taken more action to help her get better. Ingrid was lovely, and the theme of Martha healing her relationship with her mom was quite beautiful and realistic. Overall, not a bad book, but not a fantastic one. I’ve read better books portraying mental health in all its quirks and irritation. I’m also learning I’m not a huge fan of the “journal entry” style of novels - just something to note.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Domestic abuse
mikayladlewis's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was beautiful, spellbounding and honest. Honest in a way that cracked me open. It did take me about a third of the book to get into the writing style and the character, since there is a lot of jumping around. However, I think the author did an outstanding job portraying mental illness from a first person perspective. There were some moments that I felt the echoes of Bell Jar, just in the writing style and how raw the emotions come across. I would like to give a warning where if your headspace isn't great then maybe put off reading? Nonetheless it was an amazing novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Miscarriage, and Emotional abuse
katy_bee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I started this book a couple of times and dropped it very early on. As I stated to get through it further, I considered dropping it again.
The main character was clearly in pain, but also hard work and I guess that's the theme of the book. I can't say I enjoyed it, because at times it was very sad- but it was compelling and I appreciate the ending
The main character was clearly in pain, but also hard work and I guess that's the theme of the book. I can't say I enjoyed it, because at times it was very sad- but it was compelling and I appreciate the ending
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
mandyherbet's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.75
Oh this book. Sigh.
I can see why it’s polarising in many ways but the writing is so beautiful that I want to buy a copy just to highlight it because I loved the writing so much.
The main character is Martha, a 40-year-old with a mental illness that is never named but is most likely bipolar disorder. It’s not an easy read at all and it may be triggering for some but I’m glad I read it and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time
I can see why it’s polarising in many ways but the writing is so beautiful that I want to buy a copy just to highlight it because I loved the writing so much.
The main character is Martha, a 40-year-old with a mental illness that is never named but is most likely bipolar disorder. It’s not an easy read at all and it may be triggering for some but I’m glad I read it and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Suicide attempt