A review by bookaholiz
Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This novel took so long to finish but whenever I actually sat down with it I could not put it down. It is so depressingly and spectacularly human, and ironically enough I always read it when I was in public, and had to hold back tears every single time.

Some books are hard to describe with words. But Sorrow and Bliss put me through all the range of emotions in the span of a few pages, and Martha is surely one of the most memorable protagonists I’ve ever read. She is flawed and complicated and compelling, she made you frustrated and hopeless and sympathized and angry and sad with her.

I’m not sure I agree with every message in this book, but it is such a personal narrative that I cannot dispute it either. I especially like the personal touch of not including the actual diagnosis in the book to show that it does not matter what it is, it is valid and you deserve to treat it with the same respect.

Anyway, I just inexplicably adore a sad book that managed to convince you why it has to be so damn sad.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings