Happy Stories, Mostly

by Norman Erikson Pasaribu
Happy Stories, Mostly cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Short Story Collections
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  • ID: 4002
  • Added: 2025-10-20
  • Updated: 2025-10-21
  • ISBN: 9781952177064
  • Publisher: Feminist Press at CUNY
  • Published: 2023-06-06
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 4

Happy Stories, Mostly is the stunning fiction debut of queer Indonesian writer Norman Erikson Pasaribu, longlisted for the International Booker Prize. This collection of twelve short stories weaves together speculative fiction and dark absurdism, drawing from Batak and Christian cultural elements. Each story delves into the concept of being almost happy—nearly finding joy, sort-of being accepted, but never fully grasping one's desires. Joy shimmers on the horizon, just out of reach./n/nThe stories range from an employee navigating a department of Heaven devoted to archiving unanswered prayers to a tourist in Vietnam seeking solace after her son’s suicide. With a tragicomic tone, the collection probes the miraculous and melancholy nature of survival amid loneliness. Pasaribu's work is described as 'one of the most important Indonesian writers today' by Litro Magazine, offering an oblique approach to human life.

Reviews
The Booker Prizes · 2025-07-03
Innovative 4.00

The collection blends science fiction, absurdism, and alternative-historical realism to challenge heteronormative norms. It offers a unique and thought-provoking reading experience.

The Booker Prizes highlights how Pasaribu's collection is a bold and innovative exploration of queer experiences. The stories are not just playful but also deeply rooted in a quest to destabilize traditional narratives. This collection is a must-read for those interested in diverse and unconventional storytelling. The reviewer appreciates the collection's ability to blend different genres and themes, making it a rich and engaging read. The stories are interconnected, creating a tapestry of queer experiences that are both heartbreaking and hopeful.

Quick quotes

    A short story collection that blends science fiction, absurdism and alternative-historical realism, aiming to destabilise the heteronormative world.

    The stories talk to each other, echo phrases and themes, and even shards of stories within other stories.

    This debut short story collection from a queer Indonesian writer explores longing, loss and missed chances.

Asymptote Journal · Arbnora Selmani · 2024-07-03
Poignant 4.25

The stories are both painful and playful, carving out a sensitive depiction of queer suffering. The collection is a significant contribution to queer literature.

Arbnora Selmani from Asymptote Journal notes that Pasaribu's stories are a delicate balance of pain and playfulness. This duality allows for a nuanced exploration of queer experiences, making the collection both emotionally resonant and intellectually stimulating. The reviewer particularly appreciates how Pasaribu sensitively depicts queer suffering, making it a poignant and necessary read. The collection's ability to blend these contrasting elements is what makes it stand out.

Quick quotes

    These stories are painful but also playful.

    Between these two states, Pasaribu carves out an alternate queer tradition which sensitively depicts queer suffering.

    Pasaribu's delicate yet playful storytelling.

Aniko Press · 2022-04-19
provocative 4.00

The debut collection explores longing, loss, and missed chances with a blend of science fiction and absurdism. It aims to destabilize heteronormative worldviews.

The reviewer highlights how Pasaribu's debut collection delves into themes of longing, loss, and missed chances, using a blend of science fiction, absurdism, and alternative-historical realism. They appreciate how the stories aim to destabilize heteronormative worldviews, offering a fresh and provocative perspective. The reviewer finds the collection to be a powerful exploration of queer experiences, blending humor and heartache in a way that feels both personal and universal.

Quick quotes

    This debut short story collection from a queer Indonesian writer explores longing, loss and missed chances.

    A short story collection that blends science fiction, absurdism and alternative-historical realism, aiming to destabilise the heteronormative world.

    These stories are painful but also playful.

Tony's Reading List · 2022-04-11
Engaging 3.75

The collection is enjoyable and light, with interconnected stories that create a cohesive reading experience.

Tony's Reading List finds Pasaribu's collection to be an enjoyable and light read, despite its heavy themes. The interconnectedness of the stories adds depth and coherence to the overall experience. The reviewer appreciates the playful and emotionally charged nature of the stories, which makes the collection engaging and thought-provoking. The lightness of the tone is balanced by the emotional weight of the themes, creating a unique and satisfying read.

Quick quotes

    Pasaribu's collection brings together twelve stories, running in total to around 140 pages, and on the whole it's an enjoyable, light experience.

    Playful, shape-shifting and emotionally charged.

    The stories talk to each other, echo phrases and themes, and even shards of stories within other stories.

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