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This Is Happiness
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
A profound and enchanting new novel from Booker Prize-longlisted author Niall Williams about the loves of our lives and the joys of reminiscing. You don't see rain stop, but you sense it. You sense something has changed in the frequency you've been living and you hear the quietness you thought was silence get quieter still, and you raise your head so your eyes can make sense of what your ears have already told you, which at first is only: something has changed. The rain is stopping. Nobody in the small, forgotten village of Faha remembers when it started; rain on the western seaboard was a condition of living. Now--just as Father Coffey proclaims the coming of electricity--it is stopping. Seventeen-year-old Noel Crowe is standing outside his grandparents' house shortly after the rain has stopped when he encounters Christy for the first time. Though he can't explain it, Noel knows right then: something has changed. This is the story of all that was to follow: Christy's long-lost love and why he had come to Faha, Noel's own experiences falling in and out of love, and the endlessly postponed arrival of electricity--a development that, once complete, would leave behind a world that had not changed for centuries. Niall Williams' latest novel is an intricately observed portrait of a community, its idiosyncrasies and its traditions, its paradoxes and its inanities, its failures and its triumphs. Luminous and otherworldly, and yet anchored with deep-running roots into the earthy and the everyday, This Is Happiness is about stories as the very stuff of life: the ways they make the texture and matter of our world, and the ways they write and rewrite us.
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BarbaraBB
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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#BookReport 15/23

The tagged book was the least favorite this week. I really enjoyed Ben and I‘m a Fan but nothing could compete with Three. What a terrific book. My second week in a row with a 5⭐️ read. Lucky me!

TrishB I‘m glad you loved Three- I did too. Not Freshwater but a different story! 2mo
Cinfhen Yay! I‘m so glad you‘re finally finding some 5 star reads💕 2mo
68 likes2 comments
review
BarbaraBB
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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Mehso-so

Electricity comes to a small Irish parish in the 1950s. The man delivering it is Christy, a man with a mission. Or two actually. He finds company in the young Noe, a boy on the brink of adulthood - with its uncertainties.
To me this book is way too long. I love Niall Williams writing and I was eager to follow the plot but the endlessly adding of details worked so distracting that I found myself skimming pages until the story continued. #Roll100

Kerrbearlib Love this pic! Beautiful green. 2mo
PuddleJumper 🎉🎉 2mo
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squirrelbrain It sounds like a great book on paper… 🤔 2mo
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain It is. @Suet624 loved it. It is just my impatience again! (edited) 2mo
CSeydel Good review! 2mo
Megabooks Too bad it wasn‘t better. 😕 2mo
Suet624 Awww, I'm sorry you didn't like it more. Apparently I was in the mood for lengthy paragraphs and wordy descriptions. LOL. Your review reminds me a bit of what I would say about Birnam Woods, which I know you liked a lot. I haven't quite come to grips with that book and so I haven't written anything about it yet. 2mo
BarbaraBB @Suet624 It‘s a matter of being in the mood indeed. I can be so impatient! Of Birnam Woods however, I couldn‘t get enough. Strange how our minds work. I am sorry you didn‘t enjoy that one as much 🤍 2mo
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Suet624
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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Pickpick

This story of a fictional town in Ireland as it prepares for electricity to be installed in the town is also a story about a stranger coming to town to ask for forgiveness. The story is told so beautifully and the writing takes time to take in. This is not a quick read. It reminded me of my father of Irish descent telling stories - endlessly adding details that ultimately make the story so much better.

Readergrrl I have this on my TBR. Maybe this will be next read?!?! This is the second time I‘ve seen it reviewed on social media this week! It must be a sign! 2mo
BarbaraBB It‘s a sign indeed @Readergrrl , I just started it too! Beautiful review Sue, I am a bit distracted by all characters but I‘m sure I‘ll get used to it! 2mo
Suet624 @Readergrrl It is dense in the telling of the story but I felt as though it brought me ever closer to the characters and their feelings. I hope you enjoy it. 2mo
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Suet624 @BarbaraBB Haha. I'm trying to remember all the characters at the beginning. I feel as though he whittles it down and it all becomes manageable. I saw a review on Litsy that stated it could use some editing and I suppose that's true - but I really enjoyed the telling. 2mo
batsy I don't think I've heard of this. Thanks for putting it on my radar. Lovely cover, too. 2mo
Suet624 @batsy it‘s one of those books that is slow to rise on lists but you‘ll suddenly notice more and more people talking about it. I didn‘t know this author and now I have to read more of his work. 2mo
Reggie Sounds wonderful. 2mo
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BarbaraBB
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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#WeeklyForecast 14/23

I just finished Birnam Wood and now have to deal with a book hangover. So what to read next.

I chose Notes on Grief, which I think will feel very close to home. I also chose a Persephone because you can‘t go wrong with them. The tagged book is for #Roll100 and I look forward to it because I loved History of the Rain.

TrishB Hope they‘re good 😘 (and helpful- grief is a constant roller coaster, be kind to yourself). 2mo
BarbaraBB @TrishB Thank you for the warning dear Trish 🤍 2mo
Cinfhen Looks promising 😍and I realize your dad‘s passing is coming up on it‘s first year 😪it never gets easy ☹️ 2mo
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen Yes, in June. Time flies but at times it still hits me 🤍 2mo
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Suet624
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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Often I feel such gratitude for my reading life. Today - despite the snowstorm raging outside on March 31st! - I feel so grateful to be reading these two books at the same time. Williams‘ writing is so detailed and gorgeous and White‘s writing is so fanciful and fun. We readers are so lucky to have such wonderful offerings. Many thanks to @AnnieMcC for the Williams recommendation and thanks to @AvidReader25 and @BkClubCare for #OAFkingalong.

Leftcoastzen Bad weather is a great reason to stay in & read! Stay safe! 2mo
Suet624 @Leftcoastzen It's a great excuse to read and nap. :) 2mo
BkClubCare This fills my ❤️ 2mo
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Suet624 @BkClubCare I'm so glad. Thank you for your postcard! 2mo
BarbaraBB This is such a coincidence: I just picked up the Williams to read this week! 2mo
Suet624 @BarbaraBB that‘s awesome! 2mo
Tamra So many lovely reviews of the Williams book! 2mo
Amiable What a lovely post! Thank you for the reminder that we are indeed lucky to have such wonderful books to read and enjoy. 2mo
AvidReader25 This is going to be such a fun readalong! 2mo
Suet624 @Amiable Such abundance! 2mo
Suet624 @AvidReader25 I agree! Thank you for organizing. 2mo
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review
AnnieMcC
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
Pickpick

A beautifully written book about a fictional town in Ireland in the 1950's. I loved everything about this book except that I had to hurry through the last 1/3 of book to get it back to the library on time. I will be reserving it again to finish it the way it deserves to be read, slowly and patiently.

Suet624 Well now I have to track it down! 3mo
AnnieMcC @Suet624 I think you will love it!
3mo
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AmyG
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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Thank you so much @Chelsea.Poole …I love this mug! It‘s so pretty and makes me long for summer here in the mountains. We seem to read alot of the same things so I am excited to read this book. The coffee smells delicious and chocolates 🙌🏻. Thank you for a perfect swap. 😘

#muglove2023 @Cinfhen @TheKidUpstairs
#muglove23

Cinfhen Book sounds wonderful and your box of treats is fabulous!!! Enjoy 😊 4mo
TheKidUpstairs Love it! That mug is so cute, perfect to bring a little sunshine to winter days! 4mo
mabell Love the bee! 4mo
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BarbaraBB I have this book on my shelves because I loved another by him so much. Can‘t wait to hear your thoughts! 4mo
LeahBergen Cute mug! 4mo
Chelsea.Poole Honestly, I wanted the bee for myself 🐝 lol. Hope the coffee works for you! That little coffee shop is my absolute favorite ☕️ 4mo
AmyG @Chelsea.Poole My daughter also loves coffee. I am saving it to make with her (as we are the only coffee drinkers in the family)…she is coming up for President‘s weekend. 🙌🏻 4mo
Chelsea.Poole Enjoy your weekend with your daughter! 💕 4mo
74 likes8 comments
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GerardtheBookworm
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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Mehso-so

Read this for a book club. A glacially paced literary read told from the perspective of a senior Noel reflecting of his time spent in the fictional Irish town of Faha in the 1950's. As the traditional village prepares for the modern age of electrification, it's about the people, the families, and friendships found in this coming age story. Beautifully written with lyrical prose and plentiful with themes, it still needs editing in storytelling.

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ProudBookNerd
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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This book came highly recommended. This is just in the Epigraph and already I am looking forward to diving in. A new book,a quiet Sunday morning, a hot cup of coffee. Bliss.

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Deblovestoread
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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Tagged book is on my TBR shelf. Tolstoy knew where happiness can be found. This perfectly lists some of the things I am most grateful for.

#Gratitude

Addison_Reads 💚 9mo
BarbaraBB I still have this one on my TBR too. I loved his 9mo
Deblovestoread @BarbaraBB I haven‘t read him before but I love all things Ireland. Stacked 9mo
Eggs Well said! 9mo
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SamHeartCoffee
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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This has come very highly recommended. Probably will check it out! Has anyone read it and loved it too?

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Ellohcin
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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Becker
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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This book isn‘t big on plot but if you are a lover of language, this is your next read. The writing is lovely. Carefully crafted word by word- sometimes funny, sometimes profound and always beautiful. I was so distracted by the language I would have to re-read the page because I hadn‘t paid any attention to what was going on. 😆

Suet624 I‘m experiencing the same thing with this book! 2mo
Becker @Suet624 I‘m happy to hear you‘re enjoying it. It‘s a little gem. 2mo
24 likes2 comments
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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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I received this book as a gift for my upcoming birthday! How lovely is that?!

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aemchenry
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
Pickpick

Well-woven, multi-threaded tale of a young man at his grandparent's home in rural Ireland. I listened to the audio book & enjoyed it very much.

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monalyisha
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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I haven‘t been a good reader lately — or anything -er, since that implies a verb. 🙈 So, I‘ve got to pause the book I started (tagged), which was lovely (the little bit I read, anyway!), to crack open my Book Club book.

Starting over tonight with Evvie Drake Starts Over. It seems like a quick read, though, so hopefully I‘ll finish in time! 🤞🏻

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monalyisha
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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“The shoes of all grandparents are inestimable mysteries, hold them in your hand and they are strange and tender somehow.”

Pictured are me & my Mom with my Grandma at my wedding. Inexplicably, my Grandma is holding her own shoe. 😅🤷‍♀️ (She wasn‘t doing super-well by this point & she passed away about 6 months later...but she was so happy & proud that day.)

MicheleinPhilly What a lovely photo. I miss my grandmothers terribly. ☹️ 2y
monalyisha @MicheleinPhilly Me too. 💞 My Grandma actually died on Valentine‘s Day, & this year was the fifth anniversary. She‘s been on my mind. 2y
AllisonM89 I've been scanning all of my mother's photo albums onto the computer. Photos are magical, especially those of loved ones we miss dearly ❤️ 2y
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AmyG My Grandma‘s picture hangs in my reading room. What a beautiful photo and she must have been overjoyed to see her granddaughter get married. 2y
marleed Wonderful photo! 2y
MicheleinPhilly ❤️ 2y
Bookzombie This photo and the others you posted are lovely. So happy she was with you on your wedding day. Also, I thought your mom was your sister before I read what you wrote. 2y
monalyisha @AllisonM89 A worthy & heartfelt project! 💞 2y
monalyisha Thanks, @marleed @MicheleinPhilly ❤️! And @Bookzombie — everyone does. 😅 2y
Cathythoughts Bless ❤️ 2y
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monalyisha
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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“The known world was not so circumscribed then nor knowledge equated with facts. Story was a kind of human binding. I can‘t explain it any better than that. There was telling everywhere. Because there were fewer sources of where to find out anything, there was more listening.”

Crazeedi Spooky beautiful photo 2y
Hooked_on_books Gorgeous pic! 😍 2y
Tera66 Great picture! I love fog! 2y
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BarbaraBB I have a copy of this book too. Is it good? 2y
monalyisha @BarbaraBB It‘s beautifully written so far! I‘ll keep you posted. 2y
BarbaraBB Thanks for keeping me posted! I‘ve been looking forward to it since 2y
Redwritinghood @BarbaraBB I loved this book. 5⭐️ for me. 2y
BarbaraBB @Redwritinghood Thanks! That is so good to know! 2y
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monalyisha
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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Most recent #LibraryHaul — with an @erinreads haul as the cherry on top!

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Canadian.Reads
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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Pickpick

A ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ read for me and a book I will be recommending to those looking for a heartwarming and soul nourishing novel. Themes of storytelling, romantic and non romantic love, music, and landscape shape this beautiful tale of electricity coming to Faha, County Clare in Ireland. It is, truly, happiness!

#LitsyAtoZ, Letter T

AmyG Sounds wonderful. 2y
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Canadian.Reads
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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"I sometimes think the worst thing a young person can feel is when you can find no answer to the question of what you are supposed to do with this life you've been given"... "I can now say that another version of that happens in old age, when it occurs to you that since you've lived this long you must have learned something, so you open you eyes before dawn and think: What is it that I've learned, what is it I want to say?"

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Canadian.Reads
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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"The known world was not so circumscribed then nor knowledge equated with facts. Story was a kind of human binding. I can't explain it any better than that. There was telling everywhere. Because there were fewer sources of where to find out anything, there was more listening."

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KatieB
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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Pickpick

I loved this book. A story about electricity arriving to a small village in Ireland (but really about so much more). The writing was phenomenal and actually quite comedic. I can‘t remember how this book ended up on my TBR but I‘m so glad it did and so grateful to #bookspinbonanza for the impetus to pick it up. Book 3 done. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

BarbaraBB I can‘t wait to read it. I loved another one by him: 3y
KatieB Ooooh, thanks for the recommendation @BarbaraBB ! It‘s going straight on my TBR! 3y
BarbaraBB Also I read a great book about electricity in an American village that I loved too. 3y
Beatlefan129 This book was a delight, I really loved it 3y
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KatieB
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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Onto book 3 of #bookspinbonanza and just blown away by the writing! I can‘t remember how this book ended up on my TBR but grateful (so far!) that it did!

Redwritinghood It‘s a really great book. I loved it. 3y
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Beatlefan129
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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Pickpick

You would be hard-pressed to find anything more Irish than this gem of a novel.It‘s a story about electricity coming to a rural Irish village in the late 1950s.But the beauty of the story lies not in the exact details of what happened but in the way in which it is told.This story is told with joy, heartbreak, humor, warmth, and a deep reverence for people and places that now only exist in our memories.Photo is from my own trip to Ireland in 2007.

Redwritinghood This was one of my favorite reads so far this year. 3y
Beatlefan129 @Redwritinghood Mine too! I loved this book, I can‘t wait to recommend it 3y
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Beatlefan129
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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I love this quote at the intro to this book. Apologies for the dog hair on the screen . . .

Buechersuechtling How beautiful‼️ and, considering these times, so apt‼️ I know, it surely s very impolite to respond to a quote by such a known man with another quote but this nevertheless reminds me of what John Green wrote in “Turtles all the Way down”: “Your now is not your forever.” 3y
BarbaraBB I am looking forward to your review of this book! 3y
Redwritinghood This is a fantastic book. One of my favorites that I‘ve read this year. 3y
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Redwritinghood
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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Pickpick

I adored this book. It was charming, witty, and wise. The writing was rich and all the characters seemed alive. This is ultimately a book about the changes in the course of a life that are pivotal, even though you don‘t often know that at the time. Set in a small Irish village, a young man leaves seminary school and comes to live with his grandparents following his mother‘s death. He befriends an older man who is there to rekindle a lost love.👇🏻

Redwritinghood The whole village is also being transformed as electricity is finally brought to their homes. Through finding and losing love, death and changes in the modern world, the story of a young man dealing with the big changes in his life is told with great warmth and humor. #hoopla (edited) 3y
charl08 Ooh loved History of the Rain. Will look for this one. 3y
BarbaraBB Echoing @charl08 , I loved History of the Rain. I was disappointed afterwards by the tagged one but I am more than willing to give Williams another try! 3y
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iread2much Is this set in the modern era? And do the elder characters play a significant role in the story? I‘m always looking for books with elder characters for my book club 😀 3y
Redwritinghood @charl08 I liked this more than History. I hope you like it. 3y
Redwritinghood @BarbaraBB I haven‘t read that one. Also, I read this as an audiobook and I‘m sure the lovely voice of the narrator helped me enjoy it even more. 3y
Redwritinghood @iread2much No. I believe it is early 1900s. The older people figure prominently. The set up for the story is an old man telling about a time in his past when he was quite young. His grandparents and another older man and woman are a focus of the story though. 3y
iread2much @Redwritinghood thanks so much! 3y
readordierachel This sounds lovely! 3y
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RowReads1
This Is Happiness | Niall Williams
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TEArificbooks Pretty cover 3y
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