SORROW AND BLISS

by Meg Mason

I love reading a book that has been on my 'to read' list for so long that I can't remember how it got there. Although I wish I could go tell the recommender how much I loved it, it feels like a small gift when a great book like this just appears. Sorrow and Bliss is definitely a gift–a funny, weird, sad and heartbreakingly truthful gift.

The story starts on the brink of both Martha’s 40th birthday and the disintegration of her marriage. As she begins to explain herself, she describes her earliest childhood, focusing on relationships—particularly that with her husband who was like a cousin. As the reader gets deeper into Martha’s brain and her history, we begin to realize she is clearly imbalanced in some way. At first I thought depression. But as the highs and lows got higher and lower, bipolar disorder seemed more likely. As Martha journeys through the turmoil of how to fit in the world and be part of a healthy relationship, the story is both dark and darkly funny. 

If my synopsis leads you to dismiss Sorrow and Bliss as too depressing, I urge you to give it a try anyway. Mason somehow makes it charming and funny while also completely breaking your heart. I love this book for its depth of feeling and the true catharsis I felt by the end. (Lily)