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desireeslibrary's review
5.0
4.5 stars rounded up
On the surface, The Laughter takes place at the University of Seattle a few months prior to the 2016 Presidential Election, and centers around Oliver Harding, a middle-aged Cisgender white male English professor, as he narrates his account of a series of events that include his obsession with his colleague, Rhumba Khan, a Pakistani hijab-wearing Muslim Law professor.
Boy do I love a book that gets under your skin and make you uncomfortable. Oliver's narration pissed me off and made me cringe and yet I couldn't put it down. Reading the pov of a middle-aged, misogynistic, islamaphobic, Trump-sympathizing, racist, narcissistic white man in academia was really difficult at times. It felt like being unable to look away from a car crash. A huge part of the reason that the story is so compelling is because of the abhorrence you feel towards Oliver.It's definitely a slow-burn and more of a character-driven novel. But, oh my god the things you find out????
Jha delivered a beautiful deconstruction of politics, race, identity, religion, diversity, terrorism, gender, etc. This was by no means an easy read, but such a compelling and important one. I loved this so much and it is definitely one of my favorites of the year.
"Even her laughter was tinged with her rage."
On the surface, The Laughter takes place at the University of Seattle a few months prior to the 2016 Presidential Election, and centers around Oliver Harding, a middle-aged Cisgender white male English professor, as he narrates his account of a series of events that include his obsession with his colleague, Rhumba Khan, a Pakistani hijab-wearing Muslim Law professor.
Boy do I love a book that gets under your skin and make you uncomfortable. Oliver's narration pissed me off and made me cringe and yet I couldn't put it down. Reading the pov of a middle-aged, misogynistic, islamaphobic, Trump-sympathizing, racist, narcissistic white man in academia was really difficult at times. It felt like being unable to look away from a car crash. A huge part of the reason that the story is so compelling is because of the abhorrence you feel towards Oliver.It's definitely a slow-burn and more of a character-driven novel. But, oh my god the things you find out????
Jha delivered a beautiful deconstruction of politics, race, identity, religion, diversity, terrorism, gender, etc. This was by no means an easy read, but such a compelling and important one. I loved this so much and it is definitely one of my favorites of the year.
"Few things can simply happen. Few moments can simply emerge, grow, and reach a resolution within the walls of a home and within the words of people gathered, present. Those far way, in their homes, on their computers, are present here, and they know it. There's no fear of missing out on a live event that you hadn't planned to document anyway. If it ends up being significant, it will find its way into pictures and videos. The only place to fear not being present is on your device. That's where you are either in or out of sight, in or out of mind."
divinedk's review
1.0
insufferable piece of work. appreciate the inclusiveness of the book but it wasnt enough to save the disgusting feeling i got from reading the book. the mc being a weirdo and just a creep, there isnt anything that was keeping me to continue reading. nothing impressive, even the plot twist it didnt cause me to have a reaction. yeah sure whatever wouldnt be thinking about this book anymore
valmai's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Being inside Oliver’s head was brutal. He justifies all of his misogyny and Islamophobia repeatedly while never critically examining his horrific actions. The driest satire with some of the most horrific and also intriguing characters. Jha is incredible.
barbn's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jodikay's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
claudiaslibrarycard's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Laughter by Sonora Jha is literary fiction that plays with the genre and storytelling in thought provoking ways. I picked this up on the suggestion of friends I trust, and I don't think I would have been drawn to it otherwise. Told from the point of view of Oliver Harding, a white 56 year old English professor, this is an extreme example of an unlikable narrator. In fact for the first sixty pages, I questioned if I could spend 300 pages with Professor Harding.
Fortunately, I stuck with it because this book is brilliant. By keeping a single point of view, that of Oliver Harding, we gather what he wants to share about Ruhaba Khan, the Pakistani female professor that he fetishizes, and her nephew that has been sent to live with her from France. The boy has been sent by his parents to escape some unnamed problems back home.
As Oliver tries to get closer to Ruhaba, simultaneously protests begin on their college campus as students demand more diverse representation on staff and in the curriculum. Everything builds to a very surprising crescendo and ends with just the kind of haunting ending that I love.
If you can handle numerous references to the 2016 election and a very unlikeable narrator's inner monologue, I think this book has a lot to offer.
Fortunately, I stuck with it because this book is brilliant. By keeping a single point of view, that of Oliver Harding, we gather what he wants to share about Ruhaba Khan, the Pakistani female professor that he fetishizes, and her nephew that has been sent to live with her from France. The boy has been sent by his parents to escape some unnamed problems back home.
As Oliver tries to get closer to Ruhaba, simultaneously protests begin on their college campus as students demand more diverse representation on staff and in the curriculum. Everything builds to a very surprising crescendo and ends with just the kind of haunting ending that I love.
If you can handle numerous references to the 2016 election and a very unlikeable narrator's inner monologue, I think this book has a lot to offer.