By Tony Huang
In her electrifying new collection, Are You Happy?, set to release on May 6, 2025, Lori Ostlund ushers readers into a labyrinthine exploration of the human psyche, invoking a question as timeless as it is elusive. This masterful collection deftly blends the tender and the grotesque, the hilariously absurd and the bitterly poignant, all while echoing a central inquiry that haunts every page: the intricate search for happiness. With a critical eye and a refined voice, Ostlund, a Flannery O’Connor Award and California Book Award winner, crafts narratives that pulse with life, inviting us to unearth the complexities of our own existence.
Ostlund’s prose is as evocative as it is restrained, a delicate balance that illuminates the darkest corners of her characters’ lives without extinguishing the flickering light of compassion. Her ability to weave dark humor into heartbreaking scenarios is nothing short of alchemical; she transforms despair into unexpected laughter, reminding us that even within the shadows, there exists a spark of humanity. Consider the shocking vignette depicting a mother placing her baby in an oven—a surreal moment that sends ripples of discomfort through the reader while simultaneously beckoning them to ponder the broader themes of fear, love, and the complexities of motherhood. Ostlund hands us a mirror, reflecting our own buried anxieties and illuminating the absurdity of existence.
At the heart of Are You Happy? lies a tapestry of interconnected lives—a mosaic fashioned from the seemingly mundane yet infinitely significant moments we accumulate. Each story unfolds like a petal, revealing intricate layers of human experience where chance encounters blossom into life’s defining moments. The image of cats recurs throughout the collection, a symbol not just of fleeting glimpses into other’s worlds but also of the ephemeral bonds that tether us all. It invites a rereading, a chance to discover the hidden veins of connection and significance lying beneath the surface.
Ostlund’s characters are vividly etched, echoing the reality of our shared experiences—loss, longing, and the stubborn quest for happiness. One particularly haunting tableau features a character folding origami in a quiet, empty house, their movements both meticulous and fraught with grief, capturing the fragility of life and the myriad ways we cope with sorrow. The way in which Ostlund delves into both deep-seated secrets and everyday moments is a testament to her astute understanding of the human condition.
The titular story, “Are You Happy?”, serves as a kaleidoscope through which the reader glimpses the myriad shades of joy and despair. It scrutinizes the facade of perfection presented by its characters; here, Kelvin projects an idyllic happiness through chaotic bedtime rituals, while Phil wrestles with a haunting inner turmoil. This disconnect reverberates, inviting readers to reflect on the masks we wear and the truths we bury. In Ostlund’s world, happiness is not a simple yes or no; it is a tangled web of unspoken truths, missed connections, and the relentless pursuit of authenticity amid the chaos.
Through her deft storytelling, Ostlund draws us into a profound meditation on intimacy and the intricate ways we navigate our relationships. Each page reverberates with a sense of yearning, as her characters grapple with their own desires for connection, often in ways that feel gloriously messy and painfully real. There is beauty in their complexity, a reminder that the path to happiness is strewn with both heartache and humor—a delicate choreography between joy and sorrow.
Lori Ostlund’s Are You Happy? is more than just a collection of stories; it is an invitation to embark on a reflective journey. It invites us to confront our own definitions of happiness, to savor the unremarkable moments that shape our lives, and to explore the tangled threads of connection that bind us. With each story, Ostlund reminds us that even in a world rife with sadness, we can still find glimmers of hope and beauty—a celebration of the remarkable resilience of the human spirit. This collection is a tour de force, a poignant testament to the intricate artistry of storytelling that resonates long after the last page is turned.
Tony Huang is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Hong Kong Review. He is also the founder of Metacircle Fellowship, Metacircle (Hong Kong) Culture and Education Co., Ltd. and Metaeducation. He works as a guest-editor for SmokeLong Quarterly. His poems and translations have appeared in Mad Swirl, The Hong Kong Review, The Best Small Fictions Anthology Selections 2020, Tianjin Daily, Binhai Times, SmokeLong Quarterly, Nankai Journal, Large Ocean Poetry Quarterly, Yangcheng Evening News and other places.
Copy editor: Nancy He
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