Selfless Act of Breathing

I found The Selfless Act of Breathing to be such a profound read. The novel is an insightful and compassionate portrayal of chronic depression which I actually found quite upsetting to read at times. I loved JJ Bola's prose style which I felt perfectly suited this subject although I can understand - and see from other reviews - that it doesn't appeal to every reader. This is a novel that takes its time and that delves deeply into one character's psychology. There is also a strong storyline, but the book is not a fast-paced read and the dual timeline approach means, as readers, that we know early on where Michael will end up, but unravelling the events that motivate him is what drives The Selfless Act of Breathing forwards.

This is an intense, yet rewarding novel to read and I highly recommend it, yet I'm finding it incredibly difficult to review without inadvertently giving away plot points, especially as these points, in isolation and without the rich context of the novel, just won't have the same impact as they did for me as I engrossed myself in Michael's tale. From enjoying the early pages, but not being particularly gripped, I found myself utterly compelled by this novel as it progressed. Although very different books in themselves, I wonder if perhaps The Selfless Act of Breathing would appeal to readers who enjoyed Just to the Right of the Stove by Elisabeth Horan or The Boy Between by Amanda Prowse and Josiah Hartley, both of which are also powerfully memorable accounts of mental health breakdowns.