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  • Published: 15 September 2020
  • ISBN: 9780735219335
  • Imprint: Putnam
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 448
  • RRP: $27.99

If You Want to Make God Laugh





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.

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?

  • Published: 15 September 2020
  • ISBN: 9780735219335
  • Imprint: Putnam
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 448
  • RRP: $27.99

Praise for If You Want to Make God Laugh

Praise of If You Want to Make God Laugh
"Lovely...Marais showcases her talent for pulling beauty from the pain of South African history with a strong story and wonderfully imperfect characters."--Publishers Weekly

"This earnest novel burns with the consequences of forbidden romance, betrayal, and the redemptive power of love."--Booklist

"Marais excels at creating compelling characters; readers will be turning the pages, wondering what life has in store for each."--Library Journal

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