A review by kategci
If You Want to Make God Laugh by Bianca Marais

5.0

I loved Bianca Marais' debut novel Hum if You Don't Know the Words, but I may love this, her second, even more. The story of two older white sisters and a young black woman who form an unbreakable bond in 1990s South Africa kept me up half the night. The story takes place immediately before Nelson Mandela's unprecedented election as President of South Africa and continues from that point. While so much has changed, day to day life for poor black people has not really improved at all and Zodwa, newly orphaned, is trying to get by and get an education. There are so many sub plots and sub themes and Marais brings them together in a plausible way without manipulating your feelings. I was sorry to be done with these characters; I really enjoyed reading about their lives and hopes and dreams. And now I get to meet up with the author tonight at a reading!