Reviews

This Is Happiness by Niall Williams

marycfesta's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

alisonburnis's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book is a warm hug. It does what it says on the box, which I love! It’s the story of a summer in the rural parish of Faha in Ireland, the summer it stopped raining for a time, the summer electricity arrived to the parish, and the summer Noel Crowe spent with his grandparents. Noe is having a crisis at 17, after his mother dies - such a crisis that he stops going to church. While in Faha, he meets Christy McMahon, a man from the electric company, who comes to stay and work, and lodge with Noe’s grandparents. 

Christy and Noe become unlikely friends: Christy really came to Faha to make amends with his former love, while Noe is falling in love for the first time. Framed as Noe looking back in that summer as an old man, this is a beautifully written and told story, really just a warm and comforting tale, despite how little really happens. 

lauravisker's review against another edition

hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

hannahdavey's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

brodiesbookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

kamc91's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

vlreid's review against another edition

4.0

This was a book club selection, and I had the toughest time trying to get into the book. My husband recommended that I read a little slower, taking in the language, the setting and the characters, rather than trying to speed through reading like I usually do. He also suggested that I listen to the audio instead of reading the print book. A genius suggestion! It was read by Dermot Crowley, an Irish actor, and he brought the story to life for me!

Noel (Noe) is a young man who goes to live with his grandparents (Ganga and Doady) in Faha, a small village on the western coast of Ireland in County Clare. The story is told through his eyes, looking back as an old man at the magical time he spent in Faha. We experience the people and the pace of small town life. Electricity is coming to Faha, and Christy is one of the workers sent to help the residents sign up. He rents a room from Ganga and Doady, and consequently he and Noe end of spending a lot of time together over the months. They share love, loss, music, pubs and much more.

I finished this book a week ago, but I am still thinking about the story, the language, its beauty and Faha. Highly recommended, especially the audio version! Please read the other Goodreads reviews; they are much better at describing the language, the setting, and the way that this book made me feel!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

faithx5's review against another edition

emotional inspiring slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

raemilne's review against another edition

Hard work, not in the mood

rainynook's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I listened to the audiobook of this, sumptuously read by Irish actor Dermot Crowley.  The book is an audible treat, so beautifully written in places it's like poetry.  Writer Niall Williams has been aptly described as "a painter with words."  The story is fictional is a slice-of-life coming-of-age book which one guesses draws heavily on the writer's on life, in the fictional Irish village of Faha, which is just about to get electricity in the late 1950s. I would definitely read this book again:  it is that special.