Happiness Falls

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Reflect on the title of the book. What does it signify? Do you think it aptly captures or indicates the themes explored in the novel?
• Adam as a character never appears in the main narrative, which opens following his disappearance. How do you think this influences your perception of the character?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• How do you personally define intelligence? Is this a trait you admire or value? Do you perceive individuals as capable of different kinds of intelligence? What are some behaviors or expressions you typically associate with intelligence? Did this book challenge or contradict any of these notions?
• Mia and Hannah are both familiar with feeling like an outsider. Have you ever felt this way? How do you think the experience impacts a person’s relationship to their identity/identities?
• The novel explores how “verbal padding” can be both positive and negative. What examples from your own life can you draw on to make the case for each?
• Mia is a character fascinated by the multiverse and alternative history. Reflect on some of the crossroads you have experienced in your own life, big and small. What different scenarios might have played out if you had made a slightly different choice? 

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• How does the novel explore the experience of being Asian American in the context of the coronavirus pandemic? 
• Mia views language as what makes one truly human. Do you agree with this view? Is language restricted only to verbal or linguistic expression, or does it encompass all systems of communication? What implications does this have for the rights of nonhuman animals and/or AI?
• What are some of the common misconceptions about neurodivergence that the novel attempts to dismantle? Does the book itself present a sensitive and nuanced perspective on the subject?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• Kim offers detailed and pointed descriptions of the different characters’ quirks and idiosyncrasies in sketching their portraits. Discuss how Kim employs these hyper-specific details to help the reader empathize with the characters in the book.
• Consider the novel’s use of footnotes, charts, etc. How do these formal elements contribute to your understanding of Mia’s character? To the novel’s themes?
• Language, silence, and meaning are interrelated ideas that feature prominently in the novel. How does Kim explore the gaps in understanding that exist even in the presence of language? How does she explore the possibility of communication through silence?
• Trace the different ways in which Kim blends conventions of the mystery genre with elements of philosophy and mysticism. How does each complement and enhance the other in the context of this novel?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Mia mistypes the last digit of Adam’s phone password, thereby erasing any possibility of a definitive answer about Eugene’s version of events. What do you believe the truth to be? Write out a scene in which Mia types in the right password and discovers evidence that either confirms or denies Eugene’s version of events.
• Mia’s narration continually refers to music, and she is described as having perfect pitch. Curate a playlist that captures the mood, tone, and characters in the book. Which pieces would you choose for each of the three Parkson siblings, and why?
• Imagine a non-linguistic system of communication of your own—a non-speaking “language” that exists in silence. What would it look, feel, or taste like? How would you explain it using preexisting language?

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