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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
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.
I love a good collection of short stories. I actually didn't know this was a collection of short stories, just heard good things and decided to buy it, so as pleasantly surprised when I read the first unforgettable short story. Lahiri's style is impeccable and most of the stories are truly great. Others are a bit meandering and inconsequential, but pleasant nonetheless. I would give this a 4.5, so torn whether to give a 4 or a 5, but decided to round down given that some of these stories were a bit forgettable. But at least three of the stories are true classics that I won't forget so definitely worth the read.
Wow. Great short stories. I was most dazzled by the amount of restraint Lahiri shows in her writing. She is able to evoke entire feelings and memories through simple sentences and details. I found her characters to feel fleshed out and distinct and none of the stories in the book blended together which is really a feat. I really enjoyed the themes surrounding immigration and womanhood as well.
My favorite stories were: “A Temporary Matter”, “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Visit”, “Sexy”, “Mrs. Sen’s” and “The Third and Final Continent.”
My favorite stories were: “A Temporary Matter”, “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Visit”, “Sexy”, “Mrs. Sen’s” and “The Third and Final Continent.”
why do i read short stories if i never like them? NO ONE KNOWS.
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Interpreter of Maladies is a collection of 9 short stories, mostly outlining the lives of Indian immigrants in the States. With simple stories, but not so simple characters, this book explores nostalgia, new beginnings, culture adaptation and what not.
My personal favourites were The Third and Final Continent and Mrs. Sen's. Both these stories are etched in my mind days after reading them..
Lahiri's vivid and soulful writing is quite a treat. My first read by her, The Namesake is another testament to her brilliant wordplay, and this book tops that as well. Read this book one story at a time to relish it to the fullest!
My personal favourites were The Third and Final Continent and Mrs. Sen's. Both these stories are etched in my mind days after reading them..
Lahiri's vivid and soulful writing is quite a treat. My first read by her, The Namesake is another testament to her brilliant wordplay, and this book tops that as well. Read this book one story at a time to relish it to the fullest!
A beautiful collection of short stories by a startlingly young author.
As a first generation American, I found that these stories captured a certain kind of poetic loneliness, one associated with being of dual ethnic background in a country that seeks to see itself as "mono."
Absolutely worth the read, whether you're a first gen or not.
As a first generation American, I found that these stories captured a certain kind of poetic loneliness, one associated with being of dual ethnic background in a country that seeks to see itself as "mono."
Absolutely worth the read, whether you're a first gen or not.
I am not typically a short-story kind of gal, but I found these to be really great. The texture and tone of everything is really strong and the stories continue to run through my head, like the family sightseeing with the monkeys and the nanny who doesn't like to drive.
Mostly this book confirms a completely independent thought I've been having lately -- that I am kind of tired reading books by white people about white people (specifically, got to be honest, white straight cisgendered men). It's not that I don't think white men can't be talented authors -- it's that I realized that a disproportionate amount of my education has been focused on them, and I'm kind of tired of it. The perspectives here are fresh, different, and are letting me workout new areas of my brain. For others who are seeking voices that are new and dynamic, I found Interpreter of Maladies to be a great place to focus.
Mostly this book confirms a completely independent thought I've been having lately -- that I am kind of tired reading books by white people about white people (specifically, got to be honest, white straight cisgendered men). It's not that I don't think white men can't be talented authors -- it's that I realized that a disproportionate amount of my education has been focused on them, and I'm kind of tired of it. The perspectives here are fresh, different, and are letting me workout new areas of my brain. For others who are seeking voices that are new and dynamic, I found Interpreter of Maladies to be a great place to focus.