MARTHA BEEN THRU IT BUT MARTHA IS ALSO PROBLEMATIC 💯 that’s the blurb! I love this book mostly for the strong loving support system given to the undeserving martha by all the side characters but regardless of her deserving it or not it’s beautiful. It gave me the fuzzies and i cried snotty tears 🥲 I loved how everyone behaved like adults. Enjoyed your thoughts!
I really liked this book. Martha despite her behavior often made me laugh and I liked her. I wouldn’t want to be in Patrick’s position, but Martha as a character was fun to get to know.
This book was well done. Martha was definitely a pain, the portrayal of this unknown mental illness made it easy to accept those highs and lows Martha was experiencing.
I wasn't too crazy about this book. I can't even tell you why b/c it was well written. It just didn't... grab me. I felt the same about Romantic Comedy which is considered the romance book of 2023. IDK. Maybe I'm growing bitter ;-) I did just order Demon Copperhead, Bear Town, and The Birthday Party, so maybe not. I did reread David Copperfield and loved it as much as I always have. I'm reading The Fall by Camus and also impressed by it (I might reread The Stranger to remind myself of all the smart people I studied at uni). Really looking forward to The Birthday Party. The French are so inventive! Still waiting for your review of Paul by Daisy Lafarge.
Knowing how much I love this novel, I was very much in support of the unnamed mental illness. I mean at first I did not know what to think about it. And I I did not properly process it until the end of the novel but as I go far from it I see that I was very much in support of the choice and it's more like I did not mind because it did not do anything to the narrative, so that's my stance on it. I don't think it takes or it removes like you said from the story and it does not make it less or it does not make it more than what it seems so I think on that ground it works for what it is.
Hey Alana - enjoyed your review. That's about all I have to say bc I'm working on listening, which I thought I was doing but on closer examination understand some of my habits respecting communication remain. Enjoy your channel, and keep them coming, please.
I've seen this book and haven't read it. Although I am thinking about the new book, Wellness it's also about marriage and the wellness industry. It would be interesting to read these different perspectives. I'm always thinking about how books can be in conversations with one another.
I'm intrigued. You hear everyone has their own shit, and that's true, but you then you think 'how, how is everyone just walking around like this, able to live a life, if they feel this way. I must just be weak.' It really is hard to explain to someone who isn't like that. I'm not sure if I gravitate towards these characters, or avoid them because I gravitate towards them.
That’s so true. A lot of people walking around are excellent maskers and you realize just how many people are really struggling. I definitely gravitate towards these types of characters 😅
I don't think a label is necessary, it was enough that we knew Martha had received a diagnosis so there was hope for treatment moving forward. Also a label is problematic for the reasons you stated, especially when readers become offended in some way as it relates to their own diagnoses. I thought this was meh when I read it, but having had a rough mental health year myself I think I will get more out of it from a re read.
Agreed - the more I think about it, the more I think the author made the right choice for this narrative. And that’s a good point! Sometimes our experiences can help color the narrative.
MARTHA BEEN THRU IT BUT MARTHA IS ALSO PROBLEMATIC 💯 that’s the blurb! I love this book mostly for the strong loving support system given to the undeserving martha by all the side characters but regardless of her deserving it or not it’s beautiful. It gave me the fuzzies and i cried snotty tears 🥲 I loved how everyone behaved like adults. Enjoyed your thoughts!
LOL!!! YES! These supporting characters showed what unconditional love looks like.
I really liked this book. Martha despite her behavior often made me laugh and I liked her. I wouldn’t want to be in Patrick’s position, but Martha as a character was fun to get to know.
She made me laugh too! And also liked her. I love books like this that make us be more empathetic to these types of characters.
This book was well done. Martha was definitely a pain, the portrayal of this unknown mental illness made it easy to accept those highs and lows Martha was experiencing.
Agreed! 🙌🏼
I wasn't too crazy about this book. I can't even tell you why b/c it was well written. It just didn't... grab me. I felt the same about Romantic Comedy which is considered the romance book of 2023. IDK. Maybe I'm growing bitter ;-) I did just order Demon Copperhead, Bear Town, and The Birthday Party, so maybe not. I did reread David Copperfield and loved it as much as I always have. I'm reading The Fall by Camus and also impressed by it (I might reread The Stranger to remind myself of all the smart people I studied at uni). Really looking forward to The Birthday Party. The French are so inventive! Still waiting for your review of Paul by Daisy Lafarge.
I hear that - some books just don’t 🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼 ya know? Lol.
I’m so excited for you to read Demon Copperhead!!
The Paul review was posted a few weeks ago!
My top read of 2022
Knowing how much I love this novel, I was very much in support of the unnamed mental illness. I mean at first I did not know what to think about it. And I I did not properly process it until the end of the novel but as I go far from it I see that I was very much in support of the choice and it's more like I did not mind because it did not do anything to the narrative, so that's my stance on it. I don't think it takes or it removes like you said from the story and it does not make it less or it does not make it more than what it seems so I think on that ground it works for what it is.
Agreed!! Overall, I think she made the right choice for this narrative.
I’m reading this now. It is beautifully written
It is!!
Hey Alana - enjoyed your review. That's about all I have to say bc I'm working on listening, which I thought I was doing but on closer examination understand some of my habits respecting communication remain. Enjoy your channel, and keep them coming, please.
Thank you, James! Definitely more reviews on the way!
I really liked it. I thought the dialogue, observations and humour were perfect.
Yes! Agreed! 🙌🏼
I've seen this book and haven't read it. Although I am thinking about the new book, Wellness it's also about marriage and the wellness industry. It would be interesting to read these different perspectives. I'm always thinking about how books can be in conversations with one another.
Oooh that would be an interesting read paired with this one!
I haven't read it but I watched another person's review and they quoted "You threw things at me" and it's stuck with me ever since.
Whew yes, I remember that quote and it really stuck out to me when I read it. Poor Patrick!
I'm intrigued. You hear everyone has their own shit, and that's true, but you then you think 'how, how is everyone just walking around like this, able to live a life, if they feel this way. I must just be weak.' It really is hard to explain to someone who isn't like that.
I'm not sure if I gravitate towards these characters, or avoid them because I gravitate towards them.
That’s so true. A lot of people walking around are excellent maskers and you realize just how many people are really struggling.
I definitely gravitate towards these types of characters 😅
I don't think a label is necessary, it was enough that we knew Martha had received a diagnosis so there was hope for treatment moving forward. Also a label is problematic for the reasons you stated, especially when readers become offended in some way as it relates to their own diagnoses. I thought this was meh when I read it, but having had a rough mental health year myself I think I will get more out of it from a re read.
Agreed - the more I think about it, the more I think the author made the right choice for this narrative.
And that’s a good point! Sometimes our experiences can help color the narrative.