Fiction Review: Happiness

From the long list of books I want to read in an Excel spreadsheet, I first heard the joys of Aminatta Forna at Booktopia, a very unique yearbook event where writers and readers meet and talk about books in Vermont every May. weekend. I thought this book was a recommendation from one of the booksellers at Northshire Books , the great bookstore that offers the event, and as always, it was a great deal. I really liked this novel about two completely different people who intersect in London in winter. I read very comfortably because I was infected with the corona virus in January.

Jane is an American wildlife biologist living in London, where she studies urban foxes ( the real problem there). He is divorced (mostly because of his commitment to his job) and has a teenage son at his home in Massachusetts. He loves his job and designs rooftop gardens/terraces for city dwellers, but leads a fairly isolated lifestyle. There are a lot of locals here - officials, taxi drivers, street cleaners, security guards and so on. - It helps him follow the foxes and let them know when and where he sees them. Attila is a Ghanaian psychiatrist who specializes in PTSD. His work usually takes him to the worst places/times, to war-torn countries, where he provides advice and assistance to soldiers and civilians who have witnessed or participated in horrific events. But he came to London for a spectacular show and a personal mission. Yan and Attila's paths intersected at the Waterloo Bridge one night, and then met again several times. While in London, Atilla But's "niece" goes through an immigration campaign (despite her legal presence) and her son, Tanu, disappears. While the mother is in the hospital, Attila begins to look for Tanu, and Jean, along with various "fox watchers", offers to help. Jean and Attila get to know each other and deepen their friendship, as they each face their own problems and sorrows.

It is also a warm, serene and very thoughtful novel. Jean and Attila, two completely different people living different lives, struggle with different problems in their lives. They both felt very lonely and immediately attracted to each other. The novel covers topics such as war, insanity, immigration, divorce, and grief, but always with a playful twist. I learned a lot about wolves, foxes, and PTSD. But the emphasis here is on character. As I read, I became very interested and attracted to Jean and Attila. Forna's writing is beautiful, and this serene winter novel is something that really disturbs and comforts me when I'm sick. I wanted to read more of Aminata Forna (she has written three novels and two more memoirs).

312 pages, Groov Press

Registered book

This book is suitable for the following reading problems :

Mount TBR Challenge - I'm finally reading a book on my shelf!

Alphabet soup

Diversity Reading Challenge

Ghana and England are in trouble traveling the world with books

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