The Illicit Happiness of Other People: A Novel

The first 160 pages of this beautifully written novel left me cold. it wasn't until the backstories of the main characters began to flesh out that I saw a reason to care about any of them (a morose and emotionally withholding drunk of a husband and father, a resentful and mentally unstable housewife who is too smart and educated for her life, an arrogant and cruel teenager who kills himself, a hapless younger brother who is no more than a stock character). Is that a flaw in the writing or pacing of the book? Perhaps. But even as I was picking this up nightly, reading in fits and starts -- putting it down in after twenty pages, only to pick it up and repeat that the next night, and the next -- I enjoyed Manu Joseph's deft use of language and his astute observations. I love his wry, subtle humor, and his way of telling a story in a few sentences:"Somen's father is bare-chested, his mother is in a sari. Ousep can see their bellies. And their deep navels that gape at him as if they are the alert eyes of a long, indestructible tropical marriage."Much has been made of the philosophical questions posed in this novel. Frankly, as central to the plot as those themes are, that aspect of the story borders on the edge of trite for me. What I find more interesting is the examination of where we draw the line between mental illness and "normalcy." Absorb what you will from this book, but do stay the course for the first half and you will be rewarded in the second.My favorite quote:"It is the misanthrope alone who has clarity. By standing outside the huddles of man, he sees a lot, and what he often sees is the evidence that people are not as smart as dogs think they are."Too right.

You are emotionally stricken within the first few pages of this book: a family is dealing with the unexplained loss of a talented son and the father - who is sadly a very talented failure - cannot find peace. His journey takes him to places that uncover deeper family mysteries that impacted his wife's happiness and the discovery that the lost son is connected - emotionally and behaviorally - to that long ago event is unexpected and disturbing.I struggled at times to move through the book. it's heaviness weighs on the reader. the effort, however, was worthwhile. American and European readers will be exposed to an unfamiliar culture and all readers will be re-acquainted with the intensity of adolescent feelings.

Manu Joseph's earlier book, SERIOUS MEN, remains one of my very favorite comic novels. ILLICIT HAPPINESS, on the other hand, proved to be quite something else, a dour and bleak but still compelling read. Underlying the work is the ultimate search for "the meaning of life" as couched in what I take to be the Hindu or Buddhist belief system. A father compulsively seeks the reason for his young son's suicide; his wife wrestles with a mentally-debilitating memory; their younger son struggles to make sense of a bewildering world. There is a singleminded-ness about Joseph's narrative that keeps the reader interested and attentive despite the gloom; however, I doubt I would have finished the novel had I not so enjoyed his earlier work. Perhaps ironically, I found SERIOUS MEN not at all "serious" while ILLICIT HAPPINESS seemed anything but "happy" ....

Wonderfully written. A wickedly intellectual challenge. Explores the ability to know the truth about life, the world, everything. Finds the culprit to be human being's ability to think, to reason, to know what is enlightening. Does this by following, in revealing detail, the thinking and the behavior of a family and its community wrestling with the inability to understand the suicide of a brilliant teenager. The belief in happiness as the universal virtue to be pursued is, the story suggests, a delusion, established and supported by all the rationality and faith humans can bring to bear upon the concept, a delusion that diverts them from the truth of their existence, their behavior, and nature itself.

This is an intricate, thoughtful book with an ending as searing as it is tragic. For folks who like both a mystery and to think a little, you will love this.

If you're in the mood for an as described "darkly comic", strangely philosophical, "quirky" tale about a family in India populated by intriguingly insane characters, try this little gem on for size....Enough to chew on, it may shake you up a bit if you think you have the "universal quest for true knowledge" question sewn up already...

This book is a light hearted approach to some of life's eternal problems. Apart from the philosophical bent (which is not too overwhelming), the author also accurately, and with humor, describes the typical South Indian middle class attitudes. A rollicking ride through adolescence, angst, and '80s (or is it 90s?) Madras (as Chennai was known then).

An excellent author who knows his material and is a pleasure to read. Here he reveals more of his India helping us to understand a little of this large and complicated country

This is just a thrilling but book a unique story with twists and turns and outrageous characters. I really adored the story completely unexpected and then this wonderful humour that just sprang out; imitating the most unexpected moments of laughter, in life. I won’t give too much away but this is an excellent read.

What makes you happy? Truly happy?"That is Unni's hypothesis - the inevitability of happiness, the persistence of happiness. Happiness is an inescapable fate, not a pursuit"What does happiness mean to you? How do you derive happiness? Is it already there in your life, waiting to be discovered? Or is it a farce?"That a mystery must have a resolution is obviously not a requirement of nature. It is, in fact, another deceit of writers. A plot device, like the idea of a beginning, a middle and an end. In the real world, are mysteries usually solved? What are the chances? Was there ever a person in this world who went in search of an answer and actually found it?"How different is reality from fiction?Unni Chacko has done something no one expected him to do. The answer to his actions lies in a comic he made, which falls into the hands of his father Ousep. This story is about Ouseo trying to solve the mystery which was his son's life while getting to know him more.Set in 90s Madras (Chennai), this book is a raw account of society, normality, and social constructs at their worst. It touches every topic under the Sun while establishing a narrative that sets the reader into a state of deep thought."Normal is a majority state"For centuries, humans have argued and fought wars about setting up the 'perfect civilization'. What defines perfect? What defines normal? If we lived in a world where everyone was schizophrenic, wouldn't that be normal? Why is it considered 'mentally challenged'? Can it be, that they see something beyond what the majority sees?"Because to fool a person, it appears, you have to first fool yourself. That is at the heart of all human influences"Relationships are a fickle concept. Humans have apparently 'evolved' to be social beings, one of the main reasons why the Sapiens overpowered the Neanderthals. But why is human suffering rooted in human interaction and influence?So many questions were asked, most of them were left unanswered.This book is a deeper understanding of everything life has to offer. It is a mirror, of introspection and soul searching.Even if philosophy is not your forte, this book is for you. It's for everyone. Only requirement: read it with an open mind.This is a book you should read before you die.

good

This book probably marks the emergence of Manu Joseph as a more confident author who decides that certain plotlines are too mainstream, choosing to say the story the way he wants it. This one is darker, more tragic and will perhaps haunt you for a time. In the author's own words, the worst kind of tragedy is the one that makes you laugh. This one does. As a footnote, may I add that I couldn't identify the appropriateness of the title even after reading the book.

the novel was an art whose webs didn’t let me keep the book down.Whether you come to the characters or the storyline ,each depicts what our brains have never imagined to see. our kaleidoscope is small ,I think.The story lingers in the balaji lanes of madras with catholic and Malayaee’s family and there is Ousep chacko a bright writer and journalist in his earlier days but now tagged as a failed novelist who lives with his wife Mariamma, younger son Thoma Chacko and an adolescent cartoonist Unni Chacko who seemed to be the happiest .Until he falls from his balcony to instant death which seemed to be an accident but three years later Ousep receives a package which leads him that his sons abstract comic strips has some link to his death.Restless Ousep starts his quest while dealing with the turmoil of poverty and stranded relationship with his wife who wants him to be dead and his twelve-year son who falls in love with their neighbor Mythilli.Ousep searches goes from talking with Unni chackos former friends ,cartoonist meetings and even searching for psycho!!The story unfolds the bitter lies and lump gulping situation and figments of imaginary ways to understand human behaviors.The story of a drunkard who sleeps naked and whose cynical wife, who talks to wall and wakes him up by throwing bucket of water in early mornings.The novel is wryly rhetorical with a cunning style joining the pieces of dark comic strips the end is not what it seems!!Ratings:4.5/5ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Manu Joseph is an Indian journalist and writer. He is the former editor of open magazinePaperback: 354 pagesPublisher: Harper India; new edition (1 June 2014)Language: EnglishGenre: Literature & Fiction