There are two large quotes highlighted on the front cover, one from Ann Patchett and the other from Jessie Burton – both female writers surfing a certain zeitgeist at the moment. The quotes on the inside cover are all from famous women, apart from a couple that are just attributed to a publication. It’s targeted at women readers so single-mindedly that it might as well have a pink cover. Many of these books represent a triumph of marketing over substance and I’m afraid Sorrow and Bliss is another that disappoints. But there’s more than sour grapes to this less than enthusiastic review. And, of course, I wouldn’t be complaining if one of my books was at the centre of such a fabricated whirlwind of interest.
Then you get tweets and Instagram posts from influencers saying how wonderful it was, to which in their turn, in the time -honoured, strange, traditions of twitter, followers gush back, agreeing how amazing it was and the churn of interest continues. Sorrow and Bliss is one of those much-touted novels that seem to gain traction in the Spring so that many people select them as one of their Summer holiday reads.
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