Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Flip

Original poster

Anyone read / reading Sorrow and Bliss?

16 replies

Popstessy · 26/02/2022 23:03

Hi, I love reading but find it difficult to find books I enjoy. I find something that intrigues me have a little look at the Amazon reviews and it puts me off!

Even really popular ones you get the 1 star "load of clap trap" reviews.
The last book I read that stayed with me and I really really enjoyed was Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine.

I also really enjoyed The Foundling

I used to love chick lit, the likes of Sophie Kinsella, Marion Keys and Jojo Moyes, but I think I read so many of them I started to find them all become a bit samey and lost interest.

I tried to read Normal People but really didn't enjoy that (I tried to watch the show too and just found it mainly awkward)

So the point of my post is I'm thinking of reading Sorrow and Bliss, anyone read it and would you recommend it without giving away any spoilers (I find Amazon reviews often give away spoilers and with no warning 😡)

OP posts:

bibliomania · 28/02/2022 14:10

It's got some snappy dialogue so it's very readable. Personally I disliked the way the narrator treated her husband (not a spoiler - this is clear from early on) and this coloured my feeling for the book. If you have a kindle (or the app), it's worth downloading the free sample. You should get a good idea whether it appeals to you or not.

shumway · 28/02/2022 14:11

I loved it but I really hated Eleanor Oliphant so that makes me think you might not like it.

Haus1234 · 28/02/2022 14:13

I loved it and would definitely recommend, but for context I thought Elinor Oliphant was only fine.

SmugglersHaunt · 16/01/2023 12:30

I can’t remember hating a book as much as this one. The protagonist is the most self-absorbed, whingey nightmare. I couldn’t finish it as it left me raging!

Whataretheodds · 16/01/2023 12:33

I found it very affecting - i was having a rather emotional time when i read it. Agree snappy dialogue.

It's not long - just read it and you'll form your own view!

Tinyant · 20/01/2023 08:25

I really liked it but as above I was going through a low time and some of it resonated with me.
I agree with you the chick lit becomes samey after a while and now prefer something a bit more punchy.
Have a look at all my mothers by Joanna glen I really enjoyed that!

garlictwist · 22/01/2023 08:19

I read it last year and decided it was the best book I read in 2022. I really enjoyed the writing.

Aphrathestorm · 01/02/2023 23:21

I've heard it described as a future modern classic but I didn't really see what all the fuss was about.

It's about mental health so if that's of interest to you then go for it but I found it quite meh.

Wallabyone · 01/02/2023 23:25

I really enjoyed it. I liked the style of writing and thought the characters and dialogue were written very well. It was different and refreshing.

Starpop · 01/02/2023 23:39

I read it and enjoyed it, I also enjoyed the foundling and didn't enjoy normal people. I like the authors you've listed too so redeem to have very similar taste.

it's older but I also really enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine, it took me about a chapter to get into it though,

Tangerine32 · 02/02/2023 02:59

I thought it was ok but didn’t quite gel with the writing style. I recently read “I’m Sorry You Feel That Way” by Rebecca Wait and much preferred it. It is also about family dynamics, mental health, trauma, and also has some funny parts.

junebirthdaygirl · 02/02/2023 03:10

I loved it. Listened to it on Audible and l don't usually get totally stuck in to a book on Audible as l prefer to read but listened to that in two days One of my recommendations for 2022. Read it.

Walkinginthesand · 02/02/2023 05:07

Seems to be a bit of a marmite book. I loathed it, don’t think I even finished it. Reading it was like being trapped in a broken down lift with another passenger delivering a one dimensional account of the story of their life. Made me angry, had to find some bad reviews to read for comfort.

RicStar · 02/02/2023 05:48

I also hated it, did not resonate with me at all, really horrible portrait of person with MH issues, but no specific research seemingly done so it was lazy and annoying a lot of people in our book club loved it though.

TrustPenguins · 18/05/2023 00:20

Just finished reading this. Only took me 2 days to get through so quite an easy read in that sense though the subject matter (mental health) can be challenging / disturbing.
I'd give it 3 out of 5.

paintingtherosesred · 19/05/2023 11:34

I found this really hard going but appreciate the writing was very good: the dialogue was well written. I also found the relationship with her husband frustrating.

Flip