If You Want to Make God Laugh by Bianca Marais | Audiobook Review

If You Want to Make God Laugh by Bianca Marais
Narrators: Bianca Amato, Katharine Lee McEwan, Bahni Turpin
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons (Penguin Audio)
Release Date: July 16, 2019
Length: 448 pages (12 hrs. 39 min.)
Amazon

{A Bit of Backstory}

Single Sentence Summary

In the wake of Nelson Mandela’s rise to South Africa’s presidency, three very different women’s worlds collide after the birth of a child and the mystery that surrounds him.

From the Publisher

“In a squatter camp on the outskirts of Johannesburg, 17-year-old Zodwa lives in desperate poverty, under the shadowy threat of a civil war and a growing AIDS epidemic. Eight months pregnant, Zodwa carefully guards secrets that jeopardize her life. 

Across the country, wealthy socialite Ruth appears to have everything her heart desires, but it’s what she can’t have that leads to her breakdown. Meanwhile, in Zaire, a disgraced former nun, Delilah, grapples with a past that refuses to stay buried.”

The Draw

• The book appeared on many “Best of Books of 2019” lists.
• Tina from TBRetc. Spoke so highly of it I was finally convinced.
• I tend to love audiobooks with multiple narrators.

{My Thoughts}

If You Want to Make God Laugh tells the story of two middle-aged white sisters brought up in privilege, but estranged for many years. Ruth modeled and led a wild life, going through a few husbands and a lot of money. She’s returned to her family home to lick her wounds from her latest failed marriage. Delilah set out to be a nun, but left the church very young, spending her life doing charity work across Africa. She, too, has returned home, guarding a secret she’s held for most of her life. Upon finally seeing each other again, neither is happy. The book also tells the story of Zodwa, a young woman living in a squatter camp nearby. She’s pregnant with a baby that has up-ended the plans she had for her life. But, after giving birth, she feels nothing but love for the baby boy, who vanishes from Zodwa’s life just hours after being born.

Their worlds are set on a collision course when this same baby boy is mysteriously left on the doorstep of Ruth and Delilah’s home. The sisters are at odds over what is best for this child while Zodwa is left searching for the child her heart can’t let go.

“Zodwa closes her eyes and feels a spark of hope she never knew she was so desperately seeking…Zodwa grabs the woman’s hand, squeezing it hard before turning away. Hope is a trail of breadcrumbs that she will follow.”

If You Want to Make God Laugh is the story of these three women and the intersection of their lives, but it is also so much more. It’s a story of a changing political climate many feared, a story of racism and privilege, and a story of how AIDS ravaged Africa. And, it’s a story of love in many different forms. Bianca Marais did a beautiful job weaving all these elements together into a truly remarkable story richly told in turn by Ruth, Delilah, and Zodwa. I’m not sure why I passed on If You Want to Make God Laugh last summer, but I’m certainly glad I finally picked it up. If you’ve some how missed it, you should pick it up, too. Grade: A

“I had no words except my son’s name. It was a prayer and an invocation, a confession and a lament. It was please and thank you. It was forgive me and amen.”

Narration: I love a book read by multiple narrators and If You Want to Make God Laugh lent itself perfectly to that. Bianca Amato, Katharine Lee McEwan, and Bahni Turpin united to deliver a powerful story, each embodying their character perfectly. As a listener, I found it always easy to know who was talking and loved how each narrator brought out the personality of their character. It was pure pleasure to listen to. Grade: A 

If you liked this book you might also enjoy:

• The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir – Another audiobook whose story is told from three perspectives with three different narrators. I loved this story of a girl trying to escape her reality TV evangelical family’s grip. (my review)
• A Nearly Normal Family by M.T. Edvardsson – A family drama, a murder mystery, and a legal thriller, A Nearly Normal Family is yet another great audiobook told by three different narrators. (my review)