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A review by tysuckz
Sorrow & Bliss by Meg Mason
challenging
dark
emotional
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Honestly despite it being a relatively low rating (compared to everyone elses) this is probably one of my favourite books. It was so easy to read and so pleasant but shocking in the harsh realities of the way mental illnesses are treated.
I do think that one thing that lowered the rating for me is the idea that the mental illness is hidden, we never find out what it is and it actually isn't a real diagnosable mental illness by the authors account. I suppose the point is so any mental illness could be substituted in there, however I just wish that if it was written deliberately for that purpose then it wouldn't have discussed specifics such as the types of web pages that come up when she googled it etc. That way it could be more applicable to anything you wanted it to be about?
Anyway, I enjoyed it and it was nice to see most things resolve at the end. It is very bittersweet I appose!
I remember reading another review of someone saying they had a love hate relationship with the characters and how they wanted to fix them and cry with them or scream at them and I'm totally with it to be honest. I wanted nothing more than to knock some kindness into some of them but at the same time you can't help but feel sorrow with and for them.
I do think that one thing that lowered the rating for me is the idea that the mental illness is hidden, we never find out what it is and it actually isn't a real diagnosable mental illness by the authors account. I suppose the point is so any mental illness could be substituted in there, however I just wish that if it was written deliberately for that purpose then it wouldn't have discussed specifics such as the types of web pages that come up when she googled it etc. That way it could be more applicable to anything you wanted it to be about?
Anyway, I enjoyed it and it was nice to see most things resolve at the end. It is very bittersweet I appose!
I remember reading another review of someone saying they had a love hate relationship with the characters and how they wanted to fix them and cry with them or scream at them and I'm totally with it to be honest. I wanted nothing more than to knock some kindness into some of them but at the same time you can't help but feel sorrow with and for them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Self harm, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcoholism and Miscarriage