Scan barcode
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 🤍
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 🤍
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Death
Minor: Abortion
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
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.
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.
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse
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
novi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I've read this book for so long idk how to talk about it. I spent 6 months reading it lmao. Okay. This is a character driven book and the character has a mental illness. It wasn't mentioned what, but in the back of the book it said that it was a fictional illness. I don't really know a lot about mental illness but the symptoms are similar to at least depression. So. We're with this character all the time. And it was hard sometimes bc she can be very annoying at times. I stopped reading in the beginning bc of how ungrateful she was of her husband. As far as we know he did nothing wrong (and he really did!). But i really like the writing style and i think i'm going to like what this book is trying to offer. I LOVE stream of consciousness writing.
Reading this kinda reminds me of: "Really Good, Actually" by Monica Heisey (bc of the stream of consciousness and funny writing, and bc it's a journey of a woman towards having a breakdown. But "Sorrow and Bliss" was more rollercoaster-y mentally and has a more sombre tone to it), and the movie "About Time" (bc of this big british family characters that are very present in the book and they're all unique although not as functional as the movie).
People always talk about the sisterhood in this book and yes. I agree. It's so heartwarming in a non-cheesy way, bc these sisters refused anything cringy lol so don't worry. But it was so warm and made me cry.
I cried at the end of this book. It was a touched-cry. Not a sad-cry. My worry when starting this book was it's gonna be depressing. But for me personally, it's not. Like I said there are times where the main character was so so unbelievably annoying, but it was then balanced with a loooot of warmth and hug from other characters and the main character herself. And the humor. I love the humor.
I still don't know if i'm gonna give it 4 or 4.5 stars though. idk why
Reading this kinda reminds me of: "Really Good, Actually" by Monica Heisey (bc of the stream of consciousness and funny writing, and bc it's a journey of a woman towards having a breakdown. But "Sorrow and Bliss" was more rollercoaster-y mentally and has a more sombre tone to it), and the movie "About Time" (bc of this big british family characters that are very present in the book and they're all unique although not as functional as the movie).
People always talk about the sisterhood in this book and yes. I agree. It's so heartwarming in a non-cheesy way, bc these sisters refused anything cringy lol so don't worry. But it was so warm and made me cry.
I cried at the end of this book. It was a touched-cry. Not a sad-cry. My worry when starting this book was it's gonna be depressing. But for me personally, it's not. Like I said there are times where the main character was so so unbelievably annoying, but it was then balanced with a loooot of warmth and hug from other characters and the main character herself. And the humor. I love the humor.
I still don't know if i'm gonna give it 4 or 4.5 stars though. idk why
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcoholism
lolasherwin's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Emotional abuse
katy_bee's review
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
m_corsano's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.0
I adored this book. The writing style is so intimate and precise that is almost read like someone’s (my own?) diary. It is the most accurate and sympathetic depiction of living with mental illness or having someone in your life with mental illness I’ve ever come across. This is a book I will think about for a long time. It changed me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Medical content
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Miscarriage