Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason takes an intimate look at living with mental illness. It’s a fictional story, but it feels real all the same.
It’s set in England, and follows a young woman through her life (including two marriages) while she grapples with an undiagnosed/misdiagnosed mental disorder. We see how it affects not just her, but her family and her relationships.
*I received this book for free from the publisher (Harper Books) in exchange for an honest review.
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Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason: My Thoughts
This story unflinchingly takes on the topic of mental health and its stigmas – but without completely dismissing responsibility for one’s actions, either.
It has a very stream-of-consciousness writing style, and I loved the dry humor. The relationship between Martha and her sister Ingrid was probably my favorite part!
Personally, I don’t know a ton about mental health, so I’m glad to have read this book for a better perspective on it. I could find myself getting frustrated at times by Martha’s actions, especially seeing how they affected those around her. But then I’d tell myself to take a step back and remember the source of many of those actions.
Overall, this was an honest and illuminating story with well-rounded characters. I love how it opens up a conversation about mental health – why it’s such a ‘taboo’ subject, and how we need to normalize discussing it.
Rating: 4 (out of 5) stars
Release date: February 9th, 2021
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