A review by milos_booknook
Happy Stories, Mostly by Norman Erikson Pasaribu

dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Pasaribu’s writing is enchanting and lyrical. He uses this talent to particular advantage when drawing out the conflict in being both queer and Christian. He also weaves many Batak and Christian references seamlessly into his short stories, exploring his own struggle to keep faith as a queer person. 

I was especially interested in the recurring issue of family conflict (mostly due to the characters being members of the LGBTQ community). It realistically shows that, although the parents mostly accept their children’s sexual orientation, they still have a hard time letting go of the ‘nuclear family’ concept and inadvertently put pressure on same-sex couples. 

This is a 5-star read. It was enjoyable yet informative, giving a fascinating view into the life of queer people in homophobic Indonesia. 
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