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A review by emisallbooked
If You Want to Make God Laugh by Bianca Marais
5.0
Set in a newly Apartheid-free South Africa this book tells the story of 3 women who’s lives will become entwined in surprising ways. Ruth is a wealthy former stripper on the cusp of her 3rd divorce; Delilah is a disgraced nun who’s past is crawling out of the shadows to haunt her; and Zodwa is a pregnant teenager living with her mother in small shack in a squatter’s camp. It’s a story about love, forgiveness, and the resilience of women in a world with the odds stacked against them.
This book will likely end up being one of my favorite reads of the year. I loved the use of the 3 perspectives, I liked that sometimes one flowed right into the other during intensely emotional scenes so as to not break the tension. It is a longer book but it never feels like it drags, her pacing of the events over 2 years felt natural.
Between these 3 women, they face nearly every obstacle, trauma, and barrier possible yet the book managed to maintain an air of hope which is not an easy feat to achieve. She doesn’t shy away from the tough issues either, facing things like racism, homophobia, HIV stigma and abuse in the church straight on. But somehow, each woman finds the strength to get back up and carry on time and time again. I just loved everything about this book, and even though it will make you cry multiple times I’d highly recommend it to everyone.
This book will likely end up being one of my favorite reads of the year. I loved the use of the 3 perspectives, I liked that sometimes one flowed right into the other during intensely emotional scenes so as to not break the tension. It is a longer book but it never feels like it drags, her pacing of the events over 2 years felt natural.
Between these 3 women, they face nearly every obstacle, trauma, and barrier possible yet the book managed to maintain an air of hope which is not an easy feat to achieve. She doesn’t shy away from the tough issues either, facing things like racism, homophobia, HIV stigma and abuse in the church straight on. But somehow, each woman finds the strength to get back up and carry on time and time again. I just loved everything about this book, and even though it will make you cry multiple times I’d highly recommend it to everyone.