Scan barcode
A review by bookofcinz
If You Want to Make God Laugh by Bianca Marais
3.0
No child should have to carry the burden of being their parent’s oxygen.
If You Want To Make God Laugh is Bianca Marais' second novel, that is set in South Africa after the "abolishment" of Apartheid and the recent election of Nelson Mandela. While South Africa is changing as a country so too are the three women we meet. Ruth, is a recovering drug addict who staged a suicide so that her third husband will not go through with the divorce. Delilah, upon receiving a letter drops everything returns to South Africa to see a dying man. Zodwa, is seventeen new to the capital city where she lives with her Mom, who seems to be suffering from a broken-heart and a mysterious illness. These three ladies all come together under the most usual circumstances, and the reader is left to pick a side.
I started out very interested and invested in the lives of these three ladies. I was so engaged I read the first 30% in no time. I think having the chapters short and having the story seen from three POVs helped in the beginning but closer to the end proved a bit difficult. For example, we would hear about something happening in chapter 10 and not hear about it, have it resolved or mentioned again until chapter 40. Also, while this is fiction, a lot of the things and character motivations did not make sense. Added to this also, is that there are a lot of resolved minor plots or characters who did not need to be included. The end tied up entirely too nicely and unrealistic, I mean COME ON!
The writing is good, but after 30% things got to be a bit eye rolling and cheesy.
If You Want To Make God Laugh is Bianca Marais' second novel, that is set in South Africa after the "abolishment" of Apartheid and the recent election of Nelson Mandela. While South Africa is changing as a country so too are the three women we meet. Ruth, is a recovering drug addict who staged a suicide so that her third husband will not go through with the divorce. Delilah, upon receiving a letter drops everything returns to South Africa to see a dying man. Zodwa, is seventeen new to the capital city where she lives with her Mom, who seems to be suffering from a broken-heart and a mysterious illness. These three ladies all come together under the most usual circumstances, and the reader is left to pick a side.
I started out very interested and invested in the lives of these three ladies. I was so engaged I read the first 30% in no time. I think having the chapters short and having the story seen from three POVs helped in the beginning but closer to the end proved a bit difficult. For example, we would hear about something happening in chapter 10 and not hear about it, have it resolved or mentioned again until chapter 40. Also, while this is fiction, a lot of the things and character motivations did not make sense. Added to this also, is that there are a lot of resolved minor plots or characters who did not need to be included. The end tied up entirely too nicely and unrealistic, I mean COME ON!
The writing is good, but after 30% things got to be a bit eye rolling and cheesy.