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The Illicit Happiness of Other People

by Manu Joseph
Compare to estimated retail price: RM79.00 MYR  

The item you've got your eye on is secondhand. You probably already know that, but just in case!

The estimated retail price shown next to any listed item represents the first-hand prices we've seen elsewhere, or the estimated original retail price of a comparable item of the same quality, construction and material offered elsewhere in new condition.

The Illicit Happiness of Other People
The Illicit Happiness of Other People

Dark humor meets poignant family mystery.

If you're drawn to stories that beautifully weave together the complexities of a family, "The Illicit Happiness of Other People" will intrigue you. Manu Joseph offers a balance of sharp wit and deep pathos as you unravel the mystery alongside Ousep Chacko. The novel is not just thought-provoking but also layered with philosophical musings and an unusual love story that will keep you captivated till the very end.

  • The Hindu Literary Prize Nominee (2013)
  • DSC Prize Nominee for South Asian Literature for Longlist (2014)
  • RSL Encore Award Nominee (2012)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

The Illicit Happiness of Other People

by Manu Joseph
Compare to estimated retail price: RM79.00 MYR  

The item you've got your eye on is secondhand. You probably already know that, but just in case!

The estimated retail price shown next to any listed item represents the first-hand prices we've seen elsewhere, or the estimated original retail price of a comparable item of the same quality, construction and material offered elsewhere in new condition.

Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9780393338621
Authors: Manu Joseph
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Date of Publication: 2013-01-07
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: Mystery/Crime/Thriller, Contemporary, Literary Fiction
Related Topics: Literature, Mystery, Philosophy, Asian Literature
Goodreads rating: 4.07
(rated by 6974 readers)

Description

Ousep Chacko, journalist and failed novelist, prides himself on being “the last of the real men.” This includes waking neighbors upon returning late from the pub. His wife Mariamma stretches their money, raises their two boys, and, in her spare time, gleefully fantasizes about Ousep dying. One day, their seemingly happy seventeen-year-old son Unni—an obsessed comic-book artist—falls from the balcony, leaving them to wonder whether it was an accident. Three years later, Ousep receives a package that sends him searching for the answer, hounding his son’s former friends, attending a cartoonists’ meeting, and even accosting a famous neurosurgeon. Meanwhile, younger son Thoma, missing his brother, falls head over heels for the much older girl who befriended them both. Haughty and beautiful, she has her own secrets. The Illicit Happiness of Other People—a smart, wry, and poignant novel—teases you with its mystery, philosophy, and unlikely love story.
 

Dark humor meets poignant family mystery.

If you're drawn to stories that beautifully weave together the complexities of a family, "The Illicit Happiness of Other People" will intrigue you. Manu Joseph offers a balance of sharp wit and deep pathos as you unravel the mystery alongside Ousep Chacko. The novel is not just thought-provoking but also layered with philosophical musings and an unusual love story that will keep you captivated till the very end.

  • The Hindu Literary Prize Nominee (2013)
  • DSC Prize Nominee for South Asian Literature for Longlist (2014)
  • RSL Encore Award Nominee (2012)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.