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Mostly Happy (2008)

by Pam Bustin(Favorite Author)

3.99 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1897235399 (ISBN13: 9781897235393)

languge

English

genre

Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction

publisher

Thistledown Press

review 1: I picked this book up at the 2009 Saskatchewan Book Awards, after seeing author Pam Bustin win the Best New Book of the Year Award. Her enthusiastic response to the win made me like her on sight, and made me curious about the book.My choice for a Book Club selection I truly enjoyed Mostly Happy. Although it didn't bubble over with the same enthusisam that Bustin herself did that night, it still puts "happiness" in context.
review 2: Mostly Happy: Review By: Scarlet Chen The Novel “Mostly Happy” by Pam Bustin is a story about finding true happiness amidst the challenges and the obstacles of life. The author writes an inspiring story of hope and and redemption to show readers there still is hope and redemption. Bean is a girl who grew up watching her mothe... morer jump in and out of bad and sometimes abusive relationships; realizes that this kind of life is not for her. So she begins to search for meaning in her own life. The complexity of Bean's thoughts and personalities draws us into the book. Very few authors are able to do that. But because of the complex mind of Bean, we see her as someone who is more real and we begin to believe that the story is actually a true story. We fit right into Bean's thoughts about her world. We see how abuse is normal and we sympathize with Bean when she feels that she has to keep her emotions in in order to protect and give happiness to her mom and her sister. Bean places a mask onto her life but slowly, as we read her thoughts we see how vulnerable she truly is. The unmasking or unravelling of her layers is also something that everyone who reads this book will love. When Bean says that “I spend half of my time yelling at God” we finally see a new side of Bean. The side that's unhappy and the side that wants to give up. She misses life alone with her mom. When there were no men. “I made it my whole childhood. Happy Times”. Seeing Bean's weakness shows us her courage. Despite the waves coming towards her, she continues standing firm; believing something better will come. Pam Bustin uses this novel and the character of Bean as a letter to the world and the people in it. She uses the determination and perseverance of Bean to show us that we can help ourselves. Things can ALWAYS change. But only if we want it to. “They can leave (the mess) too. You found the door (out) and they saw you go through it. They've watched you build a different life for yourself. That's all you can do.” The best thing about this book is the ending. After all the heartache, the pain and the sorrow, “God came”. Bean was able to find the hope and the courage to go on. She was glad “someone was in charge”. After running away from her problems her whole life Bean found peace after the storm and found the will to go home and help the people the storm hurt. I think we all want a beautiful ending; this book shows us that we can. less

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