Scan barcode
whatmaddieread's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
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
5.0
This will 100% be on my favorite books of 2022 list. I don’t think I’ll be able to do this book justice in this review, but here’s to trying!
For me, character-driven novels only work when they’re voicey. A blah perspective leads to a blah book and so-on. Martha is the opposite of a character with a blah voice. She’s compelling and although her decisions are frustrating at times, she is so easy to root for because you get to know her so well.
Part of this is because Mason is so talented. While you could argue that not much happens in this book, the character development is masterful and moves the story along so well. Each one of these characters are so complex and expertly-drawn.
What else did I love about this book? It’s funny. Mason slips in the perfect little asides and commentary that elevate the novel and give it more dimension.
While the vulnerable and honest exploration of mental health is obviously the stand-out of this novel, there is so much to love about SORROW AND BLISS. This will be a novel that I think about for a long, long time.
For me, character-driven novels only work when they’re voicey. A blah perspective leads to a blah book and so-on. Martha is the opposite of a character with a blah voice. She’s compelling and although her decisions are frustrating at times, she is so easy to root for because you get to know her so well.
Part of this is because Mason is so talented. While you could argue that not much happens in this book, the character development is masterful and moves the story along so well. Each one of these characters are so complex and expertly-drawn.
What else did I love about this book? It’s funny. Mason slips in the perfect little asides and commentary that elevate the novel and give it more dimension.
While the vulnerable and honest exploration of mental health is obviously the stand-out of this novel, there is so much to love about SORROW AND BLISS. This will be a novel that I think about for a long, long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Miscarriage
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
jules_cr's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
he book explores what it means to live with debilitating mental illness and what it looks like to be in family and society with them. It's poignant and frustrating as Martha reveals the life that lead to her husband leaving. Most of the book is the telling of an interesting by a diverting narrator who is horrified but removed from the story's difficult parts (throwing objects, contemplating suicide, etc). The last quarter the book moves from interesting to good as Martha faces her life, her choices and the decisions she can make without falling into saccharine traps.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Domestic abuse
chloeeereads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Sorrow and Bliss is an anti-love love story with a widely unreliable and ultimately unlikeable narrator, Martha. Martha’s moods are like a severe weather system - unpredictable chaos and darkness with interspersed periods of questionable calm. Her whole life, Martha has been fiercely loved by those around her - her parents, her sister, and her childhood crush turned husband. But she has never felt normal, and it’s not until she nears her 40th birthday that she starts to properly understand why.
This was not your average story about a woman with depression. Yes, it provided a bleak insight into the realities of living with a mental illness and trying to navigate life and love and relationships. But it was also funny and witty and littered with sarcasm and humour. I enjoyed how well Mason wrote about the tumultuous nature of mental illness, and the intricacies of trying to survive day by day when all you want to do is stop existing. I related to Martha’s experiences so much, and the inner monologue/narrative style of writing made me, as a person who has struggled with mental illness but also just as an intrigued reader, feel so connected to Martha.
This was not a heavily plot focused story, but mainly focused on Martha as a person, a woman, a sister, a daughter, a friend, and a wife. She’s a hard character to like and she does some awful things, but by the end of the book you can’t help but understand her and you are left with a glimpse of hope - not hope that things are automatically better, but hope that things will start to improve bit by bit, and hope that maybe you might start to enjoy living a little more.
Definitely recommend this one!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
stevie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Alcoholism
More...