misspalah's review
4.0
“Happiness is like water,’ she says. ‘We’re always trying to grab onto it, but it’s always slipping between our fingers”.
- Chinelo Okparanta, Happiness, Like Water
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This is one of the best short stories collection i have read this year. This book does live up to its title - hence the stories are mostly depressing, haunting and utterly destroyed you once you finished it. If you dont like to assault your emotion for fun, this is not for you. The themes of the story ultimately is there to highlight the plight of Nigerian women either they lived in Nigeria or has migrated to United States - One who were raised to see motherhood is the achievement, one who were told to obey the husband despite the abuse, one who were told to remain loyal despite the infidelity, one who were told to sacrifice even though they lose the sense of themselves in the process and one who were told that having a fair skin is beautiful and should strive to get it no matter the cost. I have read ‘Under the Udala Trees’ and i can see the recurring themes that Chinelo choose to impart in her stories. I think the stories itself does get better as you proceeded along the way and it destroyed you emotionally in the last one. I was reminded of the scene in the ‘Maid’ series when they told the main character that it takes 7 times for Domestic Abuse Victims to leave their relationship and i think what Chinelo wrote in her stories does show that. My Favorite would definitely America, Grace and Tumours and Butterflies. Story, story! i felt could have been a novel as i felt for a short story , it does not make any sense because it was not well developed. Anyway, i still feel each story offered strong perspective for what its like being a women regardless of any roles that you are either a Daughter, Phd Student, Caretaker or even Teacher. If this in your TBR, bump it up to your next read, if this is not in your TBR, add this book to it (only if you enjoy reading sad stuffs).
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1. On Ohaeto street - Marriage or Divorce, let her decide!
2. Wahala! - Tone deaf in marriage is a severe problem.
3. Fairness - Does clorox works to lighten the skin color?
4. Story, Story! - Loneliness.
5. Runs Girl - Money or Pride?
6. America - Companionship Vs Ambition.
7. Shelter - Trapped without protection.
8. Grace - Whats religion gotta do with Love?
9. Designs - Childhood lover and Scandal.
10. Tumours and Butterflies - Abusive father, An obedient mother and A daughter who walked away from her parents lives.
- Chinelo Okparanta, Happiness, Like Water
.
.
This is one of the best short stories collection i have read this year. This book does live up to its title - hence the stories are mostly depressing, haunting and utterly destroyed you once you finished it. If you dont like to assault your emotion for fun, this is not for you. The themes of the story ultimately is there to highlight the plight of Nigerian women either they lived in Nigeria or has migrated to United States - One who were raised to see motherhood is the achievement, one who were told to obey the husband despite the abuse, one who were told to remain loyal despite the infidelity, one who were told to sacrifice even though they lose the sense of themselves in the process and one who were told that having a fair skin is beautiful and should strive to get it no matter the cost. I have read ‘Under the Udala Trees’ and i can see the recurring themes that Chinelo choose to impart in her stories. I think the stories itself does get better as you proceeded along the way and it destroyed you emotionally in the last one. I was reminded of the scene in the ‘Maid’ series when they told the main character that it takes 7 times for Domestic Abuse Victims to leave their relationship and i think what Chinelo wrote in her stories does show that. My Favorite would definitely America, Grace and Tumours and Butterflies. Story, story! i felt could have been a novel as i felt for a short story , it does not make any sense because it was not well developed. Anyway, i still feel each story offered strong perspective for what its like being a women regardless of any roles that you are either a Daughter, Phd Student, Caretaker or even Teacher. If this in your TBR, bump it up to your next read, if this is not in your TBR, add this book to it (only if you enjoy reading sad stuffs).
.
.
1. On Ohaeto street - Marriage or Divorce, let her decide!
2. Wahala! - Tone deaf in marriage is a severe problem.
3. Fairness - Does clorox works to lighten the skin color?
4. Story, Story! - Loneliness.
5. Runs Girl - Money or Pride?
6. America - Companionship Vs Ambition.
7. Shelter - Trapped without protection.
8. Grace - Whats religion gotta do with Love?
9. Designs - Childhood lover and Scandal.
10. Tumours and Butterflies - Abusive father, An obedient mother and A daughter who walked away from her parents lives.
claire_melanie's review
4.0
A solid short story collection centering on the migrant experience, domestic violence, relationships and family. Well written and affecting.
midnightmarauder's review
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Happiness, Like Water is a collection of ten short stories, solely written by the author, Chinelo Okparanta.
I had three stories that were my personal favorites: Story, Story!, which told the tale of a barren woman who befriends pregnant women at her church, telling them the story of a deceased friend of hers who was also pregnant. It is revealed by the end of the story that; then, America, which followed a lesbian couple in Nigeria, who become long-distance after one of them takes a job in America. As the other woman remains in Nigeria, she contemplates the decision of moving to the US to be able to freely love her girlfriend, or remain in Nigeria, where she feels she will be forever stagnated. Finally, Tumors and Butterflies, which tells the story of a woman who grew up experiencing physical abuse at the hands of her father. Her mother is also a victim of his abuse, but defends him whenever she can. So, she contemplates whether or not to retain her relationship with her parents.
This is the second book I've read so far from Chinelo—my first one being Under the Udala Trees. That book was written so well that I had to take a look at her other works. Needless to say, I was not disappointed.
I had three stories that were my personal favorites: Story, Story!, which told the tale of a barren woman who befriends pregnant women at her church, telling them the story of a deceased friend of hers who was also pregnant. It is revealed by the end of the story that
Spoiler
she killed said friend, and every other pregnant woman she came across afterwards in order to steal their fetuses.This is the second book I've read so far from Chinelo—my first one being Under the Udala Trees. That book was written so well that I had to take a look at her other works. Needless to say, I was not disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, and Infertility
Moderate: Murder, Gaslighting, and Grief
Minor: Infidelity and Gun violence
jacqui0306's review
4.0
Beautiful writing, left me wanting more
Sometimes the best stories are the ones that leave the destiny of the characters wide open for interpretation. However, sometimes you just want to know what happens to them. That is how I felt at the end of many of these stories - wishing I knew how their conflicts resolved. Great writing and the stories were raw and unsentimental. I found myself truly invested in the lives of these characters, even though their stories were so brief.
Sometimes the best stories are the ones that leave the destiny of the characters wide open for interpretation. However, sometimes you just want to know what happens to them. That is how I felt at the end of many of these stories - wishing I knew how their conflicts resolved. Great writing and the stories were raw and unsentimental. I found myself truly invested in the lives of these characters, even though their stories were so brief.
sjbshannon's review
3.0
3.5-4 stars. I love the writing style, but I liked some of the stories better than others.
aguaa's review
3.0
some of the short stories were just okay but the rest,, wow!!!! ALSO for whoever's interested there's wlw
"'sounds very festive,' i say, when she finishes. 'very rich in tradition.' she nods. 'you should come to mine,' she says. 'will it make you happy?' i ask. 'happiness is like water,' she says. 'we're always trying to grab onto it, but it's always slipping between our fingers.' she looks down at her hands. 'and my fingers are thin,' she says. 'with lots of gaps in between.'"
"'sounds very festive,' i say, when she finishes. 'very rich in tradition.' she nods. 'you should come to mine,' she says. 'will it make you happy?' i ask. 'happiness is like water,' she says. 'we're always trying to grab onto it, but it's always slipping between our fingers.' she looks down at her hands. 'and my fingers are thin,' she says. 'with lots of gaps in between.'"
saraklem's review
5.0
Bare-boned, powerful insight into a culture I was previously not all-too familiar with. Leaves you wanting more, in a good way. Watch out for Okparanta.
jackietea's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25