Happiness Falls by Angie Kim is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that chronicles the lives of the Park family, a biracial Korean American household residing in Virginia. The family's equilibrium is abruptly disrupted when Adam Park, the father, vanishes without explanation, leaving his wife Hannah and their three children—Mia, John, and Eugene—in turmoil.
The story unfolds through the eyes of Mia, a highly analytical and introspective twenty-year-old daughter, who serves as the narrator. As the family embarks on a desperate search for Adam, they are confronted with unsettling revelations that challenge their understanding of him and their relationships with one another. Central to the mystery is Adam’s fascination with the philosophy of happiness, encapsulated in his personal project, the "Happiness Quotient." His philosophical inquiries into the nature of contentment provide both insight into his character and potential clues to his disappearance.
Eugene, the youngest child, plays a pivotal role in the narrative. Living with Angelman syndrome, a neurogenetic disorder that renders him nonverbal, Eugene becomes an enigma whose unique means of communication hold vital information regarding Adam's fate. The family’s efforts to decipher Eugene’s perspective highlight the intricacies of connection and understanding within their bonds.
As Mia delves into the complexities of her father's theories, her family’s dynamics, and her own identity, the novel explores profound themes such as love, communication, happiness, and the human condition. The Parks' journey to reconcile their individual and collective truths is as much an emotional and philosophical exploration as it is a compelling mystery.
Happiness Falls masterfully intertwines a suspenseful narrative with an intricate examination of family relationships, illuminating the resilience and fragility of human connections. Angie Kim’s novel is a profound meditation on the essence of happiness and the ties that bind us, even in the face of profound uncertainty.
