This is Happiness

By: Niall Williams

Narrated by: Dermot Crowley

Change is coming to Faha, a small Irish parish unaltered in a thousand years.

For one thing, the rain is stopping. Nobody remembers when it started; rain on the western seaboard is a condition of living. But now - just as Father Coffey proclaims the coming of the electricity - the rain clouds are lifting. Seventeen-year-old Noel Crowe is idling in the unexpected sunshine when Christy makes his first entrance into Faha, bringing secrets he needs to atone for. Though he can't explain it, Noel knows right then: something has changed.

As the people of Faha anticipate the endlessly procrastinated advent of the electricity, and Noel navigates his own coming-of-age and his fallings in and out of love, Christy's past gradually comes to light, casting a new glow on a small world.

Harking back to a simpler time, This Is Happiness is a tender portrait of a community - its idiosyncrasies and traditions, its paradoxes and kindnesses, its failures and triumphs - and a coming-of-age tale like no other. Luminous and lyrical, yet anchored by roots running deep into the earthy and everyday, it is about the power of stories: their invisible currents that run through all we do, writing and rewriting us, and the transforming light that they throw onto our world.©2019 Niall Williams (P)2019 W. F. Howes Ltd

Poetry, humor and love

I was constantly amazed by the author's ability to describe in minute detail very ordinary occurrences, but in such a way that they were filled with humor, wit and invention. The narrator enlivened every moment. I will probably listen to this book again very soon.

Outstanding

What a wonderful telling of a story both everyday and profound. It felt as if your wise, favorite Irish uncle was talking about his youth and the people in it, in terms of both the writing and the narration. An outstanding book and performance.

Absolutely charming!

This book is exactly why the Irish are so lovable and live such “rich” lives. This charming story will stay with me for a long time. Thank you.

A twinkle-in-the eye delight!

This was an especially meaningful book for me bc it takes place in the area my grandparents came from - mentioned are milltown malbay and spanish point. The humor, values and upstanding character of the town rang so true. It was a true twinkle-in-the-eye Irish delight. I almost gave the story 4 of 5 stars bc I think many will feel it goes on too long, but I loved the slow, meditative pace of the story.

Wish there were more than five stars

What a fantastic book. I started listening on the recommendation of a dear friend (with whom I don't always agree on books). I am often in the habit of reading a little at night and listening (to the same book) in the car. However, I found Crowley's reading of it so magical that I wouldn't even read at night. What a pleasure.