Sorrow and Bliss

Writing is a recurring motif throughout the book. The first time it appears is in the form of the alphabet sentence game that Fergus Russell introduces Martha Friel to. It becomes a calming activity that she practices even years later. Significantly, the alphabet sentence game is a shared connection between Martha and the father figures in her life, as Martha later shares the game with Peregrine. Upon Peregrine’s death, Martha leaves an alphabet sentence tucked behind Peregrine’s favorite painting in the museum in Paris. Thus, the alphabet sentence game underlines the shared connections of writing between Martha and these two important men in her life; the close bond she has with both men further mirrors the comfort that writing brings Martha.

Following the end of Martha’s marriage to Jonathan, she attempts to write novels that turn autobiographical; following the end of her marriage to Patrick, she writes a journal. In both instances, writing becomes a way for Martha to process her heartbreak. However, the effect of writing in each instance is different, and mirrors how Martha processes each experience. In the first instance, she keeps her feelings largely private, and this is reflected in her self-isolation, where she moves to Paris for four years.