Sorrow and Bliss

Reading has become more of a luxury as my baby has grown into a toddler and demands more and more of my undivided attention. Even so, there are some books that grab us by the nose as soon as we start reading, and refuse to let go until the last line. One of my birthday books this year was ‘Sorrow and Bliss’, by Meg Mason. Thankfully it was so gripping I only had to neglect my toddler for about a day. (He’s fine, I just encouraged an extra long nap).

Mason tells the story of Martha, a forty year old woman ravaged by mental illness that is finally overcoming her, her marriage, and her most significant relationships. About three quarters of the way in I thought I was going to have to pull out, so dark were the clouds, but I was rewarded with clearing skies on the other side. It is worth the journey! Mason’s style is uninhibited, funny, poignant and easy to read, despite the desperately serious and heartbreaking subject. Martha as the protagonist is maddeningly flawed, but incites unparalleled compassion, even as we feel also for her husband and family. You are left as though you have feasted at an overflowing table… it will take some time to digest. I recommend it to anyone who loves someone struggling with mental illness, it is a love story to you, too.