BITTERSWEET How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole

Susan Cain does a spectacular job of communicating her argument that sorrow and pain can enhance beauty and contribute to creativity. Cain’s voice is beautiful, full of empathy and expression. Her timing is impeccable and even a bit musical—which seems totally appropriate for the idea that sad music can be moving and cathartic for both singer and listener, a recurring theme. In addition to academic and religious research, Cain shares her own stories of loss and love involving a complicated bond with her mother and the deaths of her brother and father to Covid-19 early in the pandemic. In the end, we’d all be healthier and happier if we acknowledged our sadness and negative emotions instead of trying to banish those feelings as unworthy. A.B. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2022]