Happy Are the Happy

This enjoyable work from France-based novelist and playwright Reza (The God of Carnage) takes its title from Jorge Luis Borges: "Happy are those who are beloved and those who love and those who can do without love. Happy are the happy." Comprising 22 short chapters, it concerns happiness in one's personal life, with spouse, children, parents, and friends. The first chapter sets a humorous tone as Odile and Robert go shopping for cheese in a crowded supermarket, arguing over Morbier and the junk food Odile has placed in the cart for their children. A few of the characters in other chapters are definitely quirky: a man playing cards with his wife gets so agitated that he eats the king of clubs, for instance, while another sincerely believes he is Celine Dion. With sharp insight, Reza quickly penetrates the thoughts and actions of the characters to reveal just how happy (or not) they really are.