Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason

133 reviews

ashleyjean6's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

This is a difficult read that is also potentially extremely triggering. It is about a fictitious mental illness, but it's effects are very real and raw. If that sounds like it would not make for 5 star fiction, it does. Although bleak it is not without hope and it is absolutely gorgeously written! The audiobook is also beautifully narrated. Highly recommend! Definitely a top book this year, maybe period. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Pregnancy

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, and Classism

racheljiyoungshin's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Alcohol

megh_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Medical content

Moderate: Alcoholism and Miscarriage

elizabethww's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol

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 🤍

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Miscarriage, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Abortion

laura7l's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

Minor: Alcoholism

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Pregnancy

rakkaussipsi's review against another edition

emotional sad

• Loveable characters? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse

bail33's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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

Would rate this more than five. No book has ever made me feel this way.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness

Moderate: Alcoholism

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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy

Minor: Alcoholism