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A review by liviajelliot
A Sorrow Named Joy by Sarah Chorn
5.0
Such a short novella, and so impactful. If you are here hoping to read a romance or get swept off your feet with lovely statements--this is not it. This is more akin to a coming-of-age with heavy thematic work about identity, defining oneself, and redefining one's life. Because of that, this is NOT romance.
This short novella (novelette?) is narrated in third person from Joy's point of view, and Chorn's prose just flows. It is seamless, it is fluid, and it paint Joy's world in the colours of her interests, of her anxiety and desperation, and of her rebirth as she discovers herself. The prose is not overly flourished nor purple, but just a perfect measure of biased by Joy's perception and elevated at the same time, while being readable and approachable.
The narrator is very biased, and you will see the world and read some descriptions that are a truthful reflection of how Joy sees the world--and the descriptors change as Joy changes through this book. A spoilery clarification here.
Because of this journey of self-discovery, there is a child-like quality in how Joy begins to see the world. It is not childish but the wonderment of seeing everything for the first time, of finding answers to questions you never know existed. Chorn, the author, does an astounding job of conveying this as the plot unfolds and we find out the truth about Joy.
There are some "clues" sowed at the start of Joy's first day that, an avid reader, may perceive as indicative of the main revelation. I noticed them, but having that "mystery" solved before the reveal (about halfway on) only increased my excitement for the novella, because what matters (in my subjective opinion) is what happens afterwards and the ending's resolution.
This is definitely a heavily thematic, speculative novella meant to read and think on big questions, such as what is being alive, what is identity, and how to define oneself by oneself and not others.
This short novella (novelette?) is narrated in third person from Joy's point of view, and Chorn's prose just flows. It is seamless, it is fluid, and it paint Joy's world in the colours of her interests, of her anxiety and desperation, and of her rebirth as she discovers herself. The prose is not overly flourished nor purple, but just a perfect measure of biased by Joy's perception and elevated at the same time, while being readable and approachable.
The narrator is very biased, and you will see the world and read some descriptions that are a truthful reflection of how Joy sees the world--and the descriptors change as Joy changes through this book. A spoilery clarification here.
Spoiler
At the start, Joy describes everything in terms of what her husband liked or disliked, and even sets herself tasks because of the same. After she's revealed to be an android and, thus, reprogrammed, the way she speaks changes as Joy discovers herself and how she was actually someone very different.Because of this journey of self-discovery, there is a child-like quality in how Joy begins to see the world. It is not childish but the wonderment of seeing everything for the first time, of finding answers to questions you never know existed. Chorn, the author, does an astounding job of conveying this as the plot unfolds and we find out the truth about Joy.
There are some "clues" sowed at the start of Joy's first day that, an avid reader, may perceive as indicative of the main revelation. I noticed them, but having that "mystery" solved before the reveal (about halfway on) only increased my excitement for the novella, because what matters (in my subjective opinion) is what happens afterwards and the ending's resolution.
This is definitely a heavily thematic, speculative novella meant to read and think on big questions, such as what is being alive, what is identity, and how to define oneself by oneself and not others.