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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
I can appreciate that this is a well written book that is just absolutely not for me. This style of writing that presents "everyday life" in this way is very unpleasant to me. And I describe it as a style despite having come across it only rarely before but in a formative period, as I remember being put off from short stories entirely for some time.
However, this is probably an issue of me not thinking critically enough about book choices when they come recommended, as some closer inspection should have made it clear that this was not a book for me. Moral is do a little bit of research and trust your gut on the books you choose to buy/read. Even things that made me think the book would appeal to me, such as superficial similarities in background, ended up being negatives in the book. In the sense that it highlighted some things I don't want to have to think about when I'm trying to take a break from real life! I don't know why I can enjoy reading about the end of the world but reading about everyday life and it's misery is frankly horrible.
Two stars because of a few highlights (Twinkle) and the fact that it was pretty reader-friendly in terms of not dragging and flowing well.
However, this is probably an issue of me not thinking critically enough about book choices when they come recommended, as some closer inspection should have made it clear that this was not a book for me. Moral is do a little bit of research and trust your gut on the books you choose to buy/read. Even things that made me think the book would appeal to me, such as superficial similarities in background, ended up being negatives in the book. In the sense that it highlighted some things I don't want to have to think about when I'm trying to take a break from real life! I don't know why I can enjoy reading about the end of the world but reading about everyday life and it's misery is frankly horrible.
Two stars because of a few highlights (Twinkle) and the fact that it was pretty reader-friendly in terms of not dragging and flowing well.
On my second reading, I realize the last short story of the novel (The Third and Final Continent) is the most heartbreaking of the collection.
A solid book. Even though it's entirely short stories, I found that the characters were very deep and multifaceted. Not a light read, it talks of many struggles in Indian culture but is definitely worth picking up.
Short Version: Book is great. Go read it. Can't wait to read more from her.
Reason for short version: I really just wrote out this review.... and then stepped away to have my computer shut down. Ugh.
Reason for short version: I really just wrote out this review.... and then stepped away to have my computer shut down. Ugh.
I ducked in to each of the short stories and was disappointed when they ended.
Maybe my issue is because I read Unaccustomed Earth first, but after a while and especially in this book, it feels like Lahiri is telling the same story over and over again. We get it - Bengalis coming to America in the 70s, their children dealing with issues that can only be described as #firstworldproblems, and the occasional flashback to the good old motherland where the story is as exotic and the characters are as simple and depth-less as can be. Throw in some white people for good measure for juxtapose the American identity with Indian values, am I right?
Jhumpa Lahiri has an excellent prose, and there was one passage in this book that made me go "wow" but sometimes I wonder why she is hailed as the great literary hope of the South Asian diaspora.
Jhumpa Lahiri has an excellent prose, and there was one passage in this book that made me go "wow" but sometimes I wonder why she is hailed as the great literary hope of the South Asian diaspora.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sometimes I put off reading popular or acclaimed books because I don't think that they will live up to the hype. I am glad I overcame that impulse to read another book by Lahiri because she is definitely worth the hype. It is difficult to put my finger exactly on what makes her such a great writer but her voice is so strong that I was immediately reminded of [b:The Lowland|17262100|The Lowland|Jhumpa Lahiri|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1366930267s/17262100.jpg|23858897], which I read years ago.
I also usually avoid short story collections because short stories always seem to have this little twist at the end that frustrates me and leaves me wanting mor.. But, Lahiri's stories managed to have both the twist and the satisfaction of a good (not necessarily) happy ending. Her characters were so vivid that they didn't need endless prose. I guess [b:The Namesake|33917|The Namesake|Jhumpa Lahiri|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480106986s/33917.jpg|16171] is next...
I also usually avoid short story collections because short stories always seem to have this little twist at the end that frustrates me and leaves me wanting mor.. But, Lahiri's stories managed to have both the twist and the satisfaction of a good (not necessarily) happy ending. Her characters were so vivid that they didn't need endless prose. I guess [b:The Namesake|33917|The Namesake|Jhumpa Lahiri|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480106986s/33917.jpg|16171] is next...
I fell in love with Jhumpa Lahiri when an expert of "The Namesake" appeared on my SAT. It's a really weird way to find an author you love, but I guess at least one good thing came out of that test. The stories in this collection were even more captivating than the four paragraphs selected for a grueling standardized test. Shocking, I know. I wish that this collection had been twice as thick so that I could still be reading it now, but at least I have the rest of her works.
I love nearly every word that Jhumpa Lahiri weaves together on the page, and am grateful for every chance I get to read her work. After delving into the difficult and complex issues in the pages of the aforementioned non-fiction books, I savored my time in the pages of Interpreter of Maladies, Lahiri’s first collection of short stories that is celebrating its 20th publishing anniversary this year. Having read (and loved/wept over) Lahiri’s two full-length novels, it was fun to read her debut work and see similar themes emerging – Lahiri is so brilliant at capturing human longing, conceptualizing home/home-sickness, and nuancing love and what it means to be loved. If you need a little more beauty in your life, do yourself a favor and dive into this collection.