The title of a book, has never been more descriptive of its contents. Martha’s constant state between elation and depression captures the cruel narcissistic parts of illness that are not discussed.

It is her self cantered nature which is the villain of the novel and makes the reader to at some points vehemently dislike her. As someone training as a nurse as I have rarely seen this ugly side of mental health represented in comtemporary media where “trauma” has become a ping word. Yet is far away from “the hysterical woman” trope in showing Martha’s intelligence and dark humour which Patrick fell in love with.
Most of all I like how the novel makes me question if her illness is a scapegoat for her own faults or whether they symptoms of her own personality.