Book Club: Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason

A recommendation by a dear friend who clearly knows me quite well. This was a joy to read, even when it made me cry. 

About the book:

With lightness and wit, the protagonist, Martha narrates us through her separation and the things that brought her to this point, including an unconventional family, a somewhat directionless career and a debilitating mental illness. 

A bit about the author:

New Zealand-born Meg Mason describes herself as a writer, first in newspapers (The Financial Times and The Times, London) then magazines (Vogue, ELLE, Marie Claire, GQ, Sunday Style and The New Yorker’s Daily Shouts) and, since 2012, books. 

Why we’re crushing on this read:

With a Fleabag-esque tone, Sorrow & Bliss hints at a number of deep issues - depression, divorce, having children – without digging too deeply into them. Not in a dismissive way, but rather in a similar way to how I imagine many of us deal with such matters - they’re a part of our story but not on every page. 

Sharp-witted, in that soft British way, it’s simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking.  It reads like a conversation you don’t want to end.  If you’re not up for the read, keep an eye out for the movie.