Special Topics In Calamity Physics (Marisha Pessel)
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Pickup available at JHB North East Pickup Point Usually ready in 2-4 days
Pickup available
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JHB North East Pickup Point
Pickup available, usually ready in 2-4 days
63 Dunrobin Street
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Sydenham
Johannesburg
Gauteng
2192
South Africa
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Special Topics In Calamity Physics (Marisha Pessel)
Large Paperback
Some wear
Special Topics in Calamity Physics is a darkly hilarious coming-of-age novel and a richly plotted suspense tale told through the distinctive voice of its heroine, Blue van Meer. After a childhood moving from one academic outpost to another with her father (a man prone to aphorisms and meteoric affairs), Blue is clever, deadpan, and possessed of a vast lexicon of literary, political, philosophical, and scientific knowledge—and is quite the cineaste to boot. In her final year of high school at the elite (and unusual) St. Gallway School in Stockton, North Carolina, Blue falls in with a charismatic group of friends and their captivating teacher, Hannah Schneider. But when the drowning of one of Hannah's friends and the shocking death of Hannah herself lead to a confluence of mysteries, Blue is left to make sense of it all with only her gimlet-eyed instincts and cultural references to guide—or misguide—her.
We do not measure every book by hand but instead use the size table below and AI to list the size. Please note that US and UK sizes may differ slightly; where applicable, we provide dimensions for both. If you would like the exact size of a book, please WhatsApp us, and we will be happy to measure it for you.
| Format | Colloquially Called | Typical Dimensions (cm) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format A | Small | 10.8 x 17.5 cm | Mass-market paperback, pocket-sized format. |
| Format B | Medium | UK: 12.9 x 19.8 cm US: 13.2 x 20.3 cm |
Medium paperback size, used in both UK and US editions. |
| Format C | Large | UK: 13.8 x 21.6 cm US: 14.0 x 21.6 cm |
Demi-size, often used for trade paperbacks in UK and US. |
| Extra Large | Extra Large | Greater than 14.0 x 21.6 cm | Larger books, including oversized trade paperbacks or hardcovers. |
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Format A
Colloquially Called: Small
Typical Dimensions: 10.8 x 17.5 cm
Description: Mass-market paperback, pocket-sized format.
-
Format B
Colloquially Called: Medium
Typical Dimensions: UK: 12.9 x 19.8 cm
US: 13.2 x 20.3 cmDescription: Medium paperback size, used in both UK and US editions.
-
Format C
Colloquially Called: Large
Typical Dimensions: UK: 13.8 x 21.6 cm
US: 14.0 x 21.6 cmDescription: Demi-size, often used for trade paperbacks in UK and US.
-
Extra Large
Colloquially Called: Extra Large
Typical Dimensions: Greater than 14.0 x 21.6 cm
Description: Larger books, including oversized trade paperbacks or hardcovers.
This is a high-level condition guideline. If you would like more information about a specific book's condition, please WhatsApp us. Please note that book clubs are one of our main avenues for sourcing books, and as such, names and book club notes are allowed on all conditions from "As New" downwards and may not always be explicitly mentioned. Please look carefully at the pictures of the book to assess its condition. Any other notable defects, aside from those in the "Key Features" column, will be listed above in the "At a Glance" column under "Observations."
| Condition | RM Rating | Description | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand New | 10/10 | Completely new and unread. | Crisp pages, no marks, and no signs of wear. |
| As New | 9/10 | Almost brand new; typically in read-once condition. | No visible damage, but may have small marks or the previous owner's name. |
| Excellent | 8/10 | Lacks the crispness of a new book, but no major damage. | Clean and intact; very slight creasing on spine. |
| Very Good | 7/10 | Good condition with some signs of wear. | Slight spine concavity, off-white pages, and small bends on corners. |
| Good | 6/10 | More wear but still usable and readable. | Creased spine, yellowing pages, curling corners. |
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Condition: Brand New
RM Rating: 10/10
Description: Completely new and unread.
Key Features: Crisp pages, no marks, and no signs of wear.
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Condition: As New
RM Rating: 9/10
Description: Almost brand new; typically in read-once condition.
Key Features: No visible damage, but may have small marks or the previous owner's name.
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Condition: Excellent
RM Rating: 8/10
Description: Lacks the crispness of a new book, but no major damage.
Key Features: Clean and intact; very slight creasing on spine.
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Condition: Very Good
RM Rating: 7/10
Description: Good condition with some signs of wear.
Key Features: Slight spine concavity, off-white pages, and small bends on corners.
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Condition: Good
RM Rating: 6/10
Description: More wear but still usable and readable.
Key Features: Creased spine, yellowing pages, curling corners.
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