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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
dark
medium-paced
I don’t often want to read any book that claims to be ‘funny’ and as such was reluctant to pick up this book, however what was inside the covers was deeply real; an appropriate mix of dark humour, grief, full-bodied characters and a sparkling melody of human existence.
emotional
funny
reflective
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
“Everything is broken and messed up and completely fine. That is what life is. It’s only the ratios that change. Usually on their own. As soon as you think that’s it, it’s going to be like this forever, they change again.”
Wonderful writing but you need to be able to find humor in the darkness to enjoy this one.
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sorrow and Bliss broke me. It did. I’m broken now. Shattered into ten thousands pieces, and refurbished as someone different. It’s hard to explain, but some books simply change you.
Ultimately this is a story about Martha struggling. She’s fighting the darkness in life, full of sadness while living with an undiagnosed mental illness. It’s about her family and her husband Patrick who suffer along seeing their daughter, sister, niece, wife in unbearable pain and unable to do anything other than keep loving them.
The sadness in this book felt raw and real. Tangible at times and hard to shrug off. Wasn’t it for the humor and kindness throughout the book, it would have been cruel almost to see our heroine Martha suffer that much - but it makes sense. People dealing with mental illness also can’t choose to have a break from it. On the other hand, I would definitely describe this book as heartwarming and hilarious. So maybe, I’m not that good of a person, I don’t know, you tell me.
The mental illness Martha’s diagnosed with later in the book is purposely never mentioned. By not putting a label on it, it didn’t let the focus shift from the impact of a mental illness to simple, neat, and orderly symptoms, and risking the reinforcement of stigmas. I really appreciated this sensible choice.
Ultimately this is a story about Martha struggling. She’s fighting the darkness in life, full of sadness while living with an undiagnosed mental illness. It’s about her family and her husband Patrick who suffer along seeing their daughter, sister, niece, wife in unbearable pain and unable to do anything other than keep loving them.
The sadness in this book felt raw and real. Tangible at times and hard to shrug off. Wasn’t it for the humor and kindness throughout the book, it would have been cruel almost to see our heroine Martha suffer that much - but it makes sense. People dealing with mental illness also can’t choose to have a break from it. On the other hand, I would definitely describe this book as heartwarming and hilarious. So maybe, I’m not that good of a person, I don’t know, you tell me.
The mental illness Martha’s diagnosed with later in the book is purposely never mentioned. By not putting a label on it, it didn’t let the focus shift from the impact of a mental illness to simple, neat, and orderly symptoms, and risking the reinforcement of stigmas. I really appreciated this sensible choice.
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Love love love
“I told her she was right – the things she had said on the phone and in her letter. I have been loved every day of my adult life. I have been unbearable but I have never been unloved. I have felt alone but I have never been alone and I’ve been forgiven for the unforgiveable things I have done.”
i have a lot of feelings about this book but no real words to articulate them with. it made me laugh, cry and also repulse. all i will say is that im happy that it had a relatively happy ending because i dont think i could’ve handled it otherwise
i have a lot of feelings about this book but no real words to articulate them with. it made me laugh, cry and also repulse. all i will say is that im happy that it had a relatively happy ending because i dont think i could’ve handled it otherwise
"I would say it's because you've been managing it so well, for many years. I could not stop crying because the only thing I thought I had managed well was being a difficult, too sensitive person".