Welcome friend! Today I have a novella review and recommendation for you. I read A Sorrow Named Joy back in February last year and I still think fondly of it. Here is what it is about:
A Sorrow Named Joy
Sarah Chorn | Goodreads
Joy desires nothing more than her husband’s happiness. She spends her days creating the perfect life for him in their idyllic suburban home. Everything is neat, predictable, and in its place.
When Joy finds a picture that hints at a past she cannot remember, the facade cracks. As secrets are revealed, Joy realizes her blissful life is crumbling and to find herself, she must first lose herself.
Perfect, after all, is only an illusion.
Sarah Chorn is a popular author amongst my avid indie reading friends and I was excited to get a few of her books during a promotional event. A Sorrow Named Joy is a short and impactful novella about a husband and wife. Joy is a homemaker. Her day revolves around her husband, Mike. She does what she thinks he would like. He is truly the centre of her world. She enjoys cooking, grocery shopping and growing fresh fruits and vegetables. Her days have routine and she likes it this way.
While cleaning the house one day she comes across a picture of herself and Mike on a beach. It was hidden away in his drawer and thinking that he would like to be reminded of that memory (even though she herself does not remember this), she puts the photo on the mantle area. When Mike sees the photo he has an unexpected reason and Joy feels something change. With his needs no longer clear, she doesn’t know what to do.
Mike reveals to her what happened in the past and what she does not remember. This is about halfway through the book. The rest of A Sorrow Named Joy is Joy figuring out what she likes and loves, beyond what Mike would like. She starts to explore art and painting with Mike’s support. In just a few chapters, the book tackles big themes like finding happiness, being alive, loving oneself, figuring out who we are rather than being someone in a relationship with another person.
As Joy discovers herself, she and Mike drift apart. They both take it in stride, hard as it is. Mike has been experiencing grief and bereavement for a long time but hasn’t had the courage to confront it yet. Joy’s questions make him ponder his own actions and he finds the courage to grow.
This was a beautiful tale and I look forward to reading more of Sarah Chorn. Would you be interested in picking it up? If you are looking for an insightful story centred around a relationship, give this one a read. Add it to your shelf on Goodreads.
If you have read other works by Sarah Chorn, let me know. 🙂
Be First to Comment