A review by lisam
Happiness by Aminatta Forna

5.0

Beautiful, tender, but in a way that felt grounded rather than fleeting, despite the nomadic work of the two protagonists. I loved that what I thought would be the central tension of the whole plot was in fact just the catalyst for everything else. I loved how sure of her characters Forna was; I believed their words and motivations and movements and insecurities completely. I loved the structure. I think it was very good for me, as we approach the one-year mark of the month life turned upside down for us all, to read a hopeful novel about trauma and about the inevitability of human connection.

Distracting use of comma splices throughout. Forna is such a masterful writer that this must be intentional, but I struggled. A small issue in this otherwise gorgeous book.