I loved the characters in Bianca's first novel, Hum If You Don't Know the Words, so much that I wanted her to write a sequel. I'm so glad she didn't because then I wouldn't have met Zodwa, Ruth, and Delilah. Such fantastic characters and an amazing story. Painful to read at times but full of heart and hope. More thoughts here: https://chriswolak.com/2019/07/16/if-you-want-to-make-god-laugh-by-bianca-marais... ( )

I liked this book! It dealt with some pretty heavy topics but still managed to feel like a lighter read. This book tells the story of three women set against a post Apartheid South Africa also touching on the AIDS epidemic. This story was an emotional journey and I was quickly invested in the lives of these three very different women. I am so glad that I finally got around to reading this book.

Zodwa lives with her mother in extreme poverty in a squatter’s camp. She is about to have a baby which will present a whole new challenge. Delilah has spent her life working to help others after being forced to leave her role as a nun. Ruth is Delilah’s sister and polar opposite. Ruth has lived a much wilder life and is currently in the process of another divorce. A baby found by Delilah and Ruth will bring these three together. These women have lived through horrible things and my heart broke for them as we learned their stories.

I thought that this book was very well done. I liked the fact that we get the opportunity to see South Africa during this post Apartheid period from very different points of view. Zodwa sees things very differently as a young black woman than the sisters do as middle age white women. The stigma of AIDS was also an important issue in the story. I enjoyed seeing each of these women work through some of their personal demons while learning to trust each other.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that Bianca Amato, Katharine McEwan, and Bahni Turpin did an incredible job in bringing this story to life. I think that each narrator did a great job in capturing the emotion of their character’s story. I think that their voices worked well in this story and I really liked that each point of view had a different narrator. I think that the narrators’ performance added to my overall enjoyment of this story.

I would recommend this book to others. I was quickly captivated by the lives of these three women and felt invested in their lives. I definitely plan to read more from this talented author.

I received a digital review copy of this book from G.P. Putnam’s Sons via NetGalley and purchased a copy of the audiobook. ( )

This story takes place near Johannesburg, South Africa in 1994 just as Nelson Mandela ascends to the Presidency and Apartheid comes to an end. Three story lines converge as told by estranged sisters Ruth Richardson, Delilah Ferguson and Sodwa, a pregnant Zulu teenager living in the townships.
Ruth is an alcoholic, much married former model /dancer who ends up at the family farm after a suicide attempt. Delilah arrives at the same farm after a 40 year absence and their past lives become wrapped with up with the baby Mandla that Zodwa delivers. This is also the time when AIDS begins to kill many young people, particularly women and their babies because men won’t wear condoms.
The format of short chapters as a narrative by each woman is very well done.
The characters are interesting, their stories are tragic and yet there is a happy ending of sorts. I’m not giving it a rave review because there are a few coincidences that make the story predictable. ( )

I'll read literally anything Bianca Marais writes.

This story is about not only love but the trials of not facing your fears before it's too late. If You Want to Make God Laugh is a beautiful story about two white sisters adopting a black baby in the South African apartheid.

Do not miss this one. ( )

I’ve been a fan of Marais from her debut, her prose is powerful, beautiful & mesmerizes. Her characters face the hard topics and times of South Africa with grace, quick-wit and laughter. I loved every moment of this unforgettable story of facing the past, love, and family.

Interesting that this book brings to light something that is making the news now. ( )