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A review by jordanian_reads_
The Laughter by Sonora Jha
5.0
I am still reeling from the conclusion to Sonora Jha’s most recent novel. The Laughter is a campus novel, narrated by Dr. Oliver Harding, an aging white male college professor who becomes fixated with his Pakistani colleague, Ruhaba Khan, and her nephew. The story is set against the backdrop of campus protests, placing the two main characters at cross-purposes; Khan supports students’ demands for change and Dr. Harding represents the old guard of academia at which these demands take aim.
The Laughter was a challenging read for me, since Harding is the most repugnant narrator I’ve experienced in some time. I also felt reluctant to return to the 2016 election, the period in which the book is set. Even so, I’m glad I trusted the reviews and picked up this book – it’s angry, nuanced and absolutely fascinating. Jha’s novel reads like a thriller, and once I hit the halfway mark, I couldn’t put The Laughter down.
I can’t wait for this book to be published, so I can discuss it with friends. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC.
The Laughter was a challenging read for me, since Harding is the most repugnant narrator I’ve experienced in some time. I also felt reluctant to return to the 2016 election, the period in which the book is set. Even so, I’m glad I trusted the reviews and picked up this book – it’s angry, nuanced and absolutely fascinating. Jha’s novel reads like a thriller, and once I hit the halfway mark, I couldn’t put The Laughter down.
I can’t wait for this book to be published, so I can discuss it with friends. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC.