Reviews with content warning for Abortion - Sorrow and Bliss

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Reviews tagging 'Abortion'

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason

55 reviews

abrownb15's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.5

A brilliant, introspective book from and by Martha about her life and mental health. An analysis of her own mind and actions. Timeline is mixed and sometimes confusing- brilliant characters especially Ingrid. Loved it.

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dudette's review against another edition

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emotional reflective 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

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balfies's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny 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

4.0

Feel like I've had all my ugliest, most self-hating emotions scooped out of me and chucked on gravel. The comparisons to Fleabag are apt. An engrossing, sharp, sticky book that grabs mental illness by the horns and tosses it into a pit of womanhood, sisterhood, parenthood, and toxic codependence. Kind of revolting and tortuous and sad and deeply, deeply funny.

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readmedo's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad

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

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molly_hn's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

I really loved the experience of reading this book. Moving. Heartbreaking. Enlightening. Inspiring. But all in a somewhat self-mocking sense. Martha herself would cringe at this description!

I adored the detailed depictions of sisterhood, the nuances, the hilariosity in the everyday exchanges. This book was genuinely funny. Deeply saddening. Looks at the ways in which we can cut ourselves off from life with the stories we tell ourselves. It’s a regrowth and a finding oneself story at 40. And I loved it.

Mason captured Oxford to a tee. Perfectly mocking. The village near Swindon but not… London, Wales… all of it. She captures the everydayness and the absurdity of thinking it anything but. And that felt refreshing.

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rosalind's review against another edition

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emotional funny 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

4.25

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trinamarie's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny sad 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

4.5

Tackles emotionally heavy topics with a ruthless wit. Loved the humanness and imperfections in all the characters. Truly want to have a friend like Peregrine and a sister like Ingrid. Cried real tears and laughed out loud. Mental illness not being named found frustrating but understandable.

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ashleyann's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.75

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paperknotbooks's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad 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

I’m not sure how to articulate my fondness for this book. I relate to it in a way… I suppose? I am writing this review on my 39th birthday, of which we see Martha approaching her 40th with little to no grace nor thrill. Maybe it’s the bond she has with her sister I can see mirrored in my own relationships with my siblings? I think it’s the quiet sting of dark humor which tickles me. Not only do the characters have well modeled personalities, but the delivery of the story (world building, backstory, dialogue, etc.) have pulses of their own.

Part of the draw of this book is to destigmatize discussions around mental health issues and normalize seeking help. I say this <i>generally</i> because the mental illness as it’s played out is just a jumble of symptoms; don’t use a work of fiction to diagnose yourself! And, I wasn’t in this book rooting for Martha and her diagnosis. Her POV is just plain fascinating.

The focus of the story is technically Martha and fight against depression/agoraphobia/suicidal ideation/hallucinations/plus… BUT witnessing her interactions within her environment and how people of her inner circle have dealt with her. I don’t have to manage my mental health the same as Martha, but there are other themes of parenthood and relationships which resonate with my present state.

I love this book so much. I adore the quiet existence of a woman and the meta presence of this story. There’s a cyclical quality to the plot which I found endearing. So much so, I started the book again the second it finished! This was a feel good book for me. I am full of hope for myself and Ms. Martha.

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freydawreviews's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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