Something Like Happiness by Tom Newlands review - a tender take on hard times, anger and autism
Tom Newlands' novel explores the complex relationships between Frazer, Caitlin, and their five-year-old son Jamie, who has autism. The story delves into the couple's struggles with anger, domestic abuse, and the challenges of caring for a child with autism.
Frazer and Caitlin, parents of a five-year-old son with autism, live in a decaying Scottish new town. Their lives are marked by scarce and unrewarding jobs, and the pressure is starting to tell.
Their relationship is strained, with Caitlin being a "rageaholic" who is violent and intimidating at times. She is incensed at Frazer's refusal to move from their mould-infested block to the new council house they've been assigned. Caitlin's mother, Janetta, also thinks Frazer is the problem and is forever scheming to separate him from Jamie.
The novel, written by Tom Newlands, focuses on the aftermath of a particularly vicious row between Frazer and Caitlin. The plot leaves the reader largely to infer the characters' motivation, with possibilities including PTSD, autism, or a result of growing up with a violent father.
Despite their struggles, the pair are united in caring for their small son, and their concern for him is heartrending. Caitlin's protectiveness towards Jamie is a source of tension, with the question looming: is their protectiveness stopping him from integrating with peers?
The novel also explores the couple's love of childhood pets, which hints at a softer connection between them. However, their significance isn't fully explained. Frazer does have potential confidants, but stubbornly resists seeking help until he reaches the point of breakdown.
## A Tender Take on Hard Times
Newlands' writing conjures a bleak poetry in descriptions of the estate where Frazer and Caitlin live. The novel proposes that there are angels in unlikely places, if you look for them. The story leaves the reader to decide whether the couple's relationship will ever amount to "something like happiness".
## A Complex Exploration of Relationships
The novel explores the complex relationships between Frazer, Caitlin, and their son Jamie. The story delves into the couple's struggles with anger, domestic abuse, and the challenges of caring for a child with autism. Newlands' writing brings a tender touch to these hard times, leaving the reader to ponder the possibilities of the characters' motivations and the future of their relationship.
Newlands' previous novel, Only Here, Only Now, centred on a vivacious teenager with ADHD. His follow-up novel focuses on a troubled young man, and the author himself has been billed as a "neurodivergent writer". The novel's exploration of autism and domestic abuse is a significant aspect of the story.
The novel's title, Something Like Happiness, suggests that the couple's relationship may never be perfect, but it can still be something meaningful. The story leaves the reader to decide whether the couple's relationship will ever amount to "something like happiness".
