It is hard to look into someone’s eyes. Even when you love them, it is difficult to sustain it,
for the sense of being seen through. In some way, found out.
It’s not often that I read a library book and enjoy it enough that I want my own copy, but I’m surprised and delighted to say that Sorrow and Bliss is one such book. With its amazing debut in the UK at the top of bestselling paperback charts, I was apprehensive as to whether or not I would share in the excitement. I believe the way I devoured the last 100 pages answers that question.
Martha is special. She’s captivating, she’s dynamic, she’s forty, she’s moved back to her parents’ house, she’s facing a second divorce, she’s trying to figure out what’s going wrong. Written as an introspective narration similar to Sally Rooney’s writing style, the reader meets Martha as she’s returning to her parents’ home, getting a glimpse into her mind and struggles as she replays memories and moments from her past in order to puzzle out her future. As she attempts to understand her mental health and the reality of her life, a love story unfolds: for her husband, for her family, and for herself.
As many of you know, I’ve struggled with Rooney’s writing and the way her characters wallow in miscommunication and unspoken emotions, so you might be wondering how I’m raving over a novel I’ve already likened to her style. While the novel grapples with miscommunication, hurt, and broken relationships, it doesn’t end there. There are no neat bows or fairytale endings (the book is the better for it), but there is joy and growth and honest self-reflection.
I found Martha’s character frustrating, compelling, irritating, and endearing. I loved Mason’s writing style, which felt detached yet intimate, with a dry sense of humour that caught me off guard throughout. I was nervous about the ending, fearing it would mirror the struggles so rampant in the book, but I loved how it concluded. It’s definitely a novel I would want to add to my shelves, so much so that I’ve already purchased a copy.
2% Rating: 8.5/10
Recommend? Definitely
Re-Read? Probably
Time: 1:44
Bonus Content: for anyone who enjoyed the show Fleabag, I think you’d really enjoy this book.