If You Want to Make God Laugh

By: Bianca Marais

Narrated by: Bianca Amato, Katharine Lee McEwan, Bahni Turpin

From the author of the beloved Hum If You Don't Know the Words comes a rich, unforgettable story of three unique women in post-Apartheid South Africa who are brought together in their darkest time and discover the ways that love can transcend the strictest of boundaries.

In a squatter camp on the outskirts of Johannesburg, seventeen-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. When these personal crises send both middle-aged women back to their rural hometown to heal, the discovery of an abandoned newborn baby upends everything, challenging their lifelong beliefs about race, motherhood, and the power of the past.

As the mystery surrounding the infant grows, the complicated lives of Zodwa, Ruth, and Delilah become inextricably linked. What follows is a mesmerizing look at family and identity that asks: How far will the human heart go to protect itself and the ones it loves?

If you like Fredrick Backman - you'll love this.

I have a much longer blog post about thisbon my site htwearhers.com but I'd be remiss not to place this where and actual audience will see it. LOL

The richness of the story and the characters is surpassed only by the extraordinary writing. I'm a contemporary mystery/thriller girl. So for me to pick up and ADORE a book about three women from different walks of life struggling with the craziness that follows after Mandela is elected in South Africa says a lot. I thought the book was going to boringly politcal. I worried that it was set in a place I'd love to visit but have never been so maybe I wouldn't be able to connect with it fully. I was wrong on soooo many counts. I never do this, but I'm buying it now so that I can read it in print and underline the multitude of clever lines.

No, it's not too flowery, political, or hard to get into. you'll love the characters and be sad when the book ends even though she wraps it all up nicely for you.

this was so good!

narration was everything! kept me in entertained throughout the whole book. I was hit with a plot twist right at the end!

Well written, excellent audible! Worth the read!

I’ve never read anything by this author before, and only heard of it in another review for a different book. From the beginning, the author does an excellent job foreshadowing without giving away too much or making it predictable. She also does an excellent job of following thru with every story line and doesn’t leave any holes or dangling characters. The story itself is heartbreaking, yet full of hope. Maybe because I was adopted out of foster care, or because the characters are so relatable to my own life, I found them to be believable, and appreciated that the author made sure to look for good, even in tragedy. This is one of the best books I’ve read in the last 5 years. Interestingly enough, also very apropos for the climate of 2020.

Compelling story and characters.

Good story. Loved learning about each character’s background and following how all of their stories intertwined.

Great story. Fabulous narration. very emotional.

This book will make you laugh and cry. it is an emotional & enlightening read.