Kirkus nods here. The Times also said, "Ms Hsarleman's precise and evocative language can depict complex human relationships in a gripping scene of chopping wood--or subtly illuminate the peril of romance. The Post said, "she carries into these lives a deep and resonant insight. What's noteworthy here is the profound insight of a young woman writer into the lives of men....Ms. Harleman is a wonderful talent...

The stories of Happiness are in general very strong; beautifully written, they are sensitive to their character's personalities and inter-relationships. This is an extraordinary collection, are will reward almost reader.

This is a novel of many pleasures! Ann Harleman writes
intensely sensual prose. At the same time she is a witty,
astute and unsentimental observer of the human comedy. In
this novel, she switches deftly between the voice of a
teenage girl angry and anguished over her father's disappearance
and a mother dazed and eventually awakened by the same loss.
Along the way, Harleman writes with equal intensity about
first-time sex and first-time-in-a-long-time sex, about teen
angst and middle-age muddle. She illuminates not only the
high drama here but also the small actions that make up
our lives: folding sheets; breaking bones; building, figuratively
and literally, a home. This is a book to be savored for
its many flavors, from the bitter to the sweet. Enjoy!

This book was very helpful in explaining the life of the creator of James Bond. The in-depth information that the author provided from many different works allowed me to more fully grasp the depths of the character of James Bond. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to appreciate James Bond. The book was helpful in more fully understanding what went into Bond's creation and what Fleming's inspirations for writing it were.