4.18 AVERAGE

emotional reflective 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

O primeiro livro de contos que ganhou o meu coração. Da ganhadora do prêmio Pulitzer, Jhumpa Lahiri, “Intérprete de Males” apresenta 9 histórias independentes sobre pessoas do cotidiano buscando desejos cotidianos: de se encontrar consigo mesmo a reencontrar os seus, de ter sobre si o olhar do outro a ter sobre si o olhar de um passado saudoso e idealizado.

O fato de que todas as histórias envolvem indianos que emigraram para os Estados Unidos adicionou ao meu repertório sobre o mundo. Cercada de imigrantes indianos como vivo hoje, sem entender muito sobre suas tradições e modo de vida para além de generalizações bobas que fui colecionando ao longo da vida, é como se esse livro me transformasse em um mosquito que entra na casa dos meus vizinhos e conhece suas potenciais vidas íntimas.

Não gostei de todas as histórias em igual medida. Se destacaram:

“A temporary matter”, a história de um casal que encontra espaço para dialogar sobre vulnerabilidades quando falta luz no bairro e são obrigados a passar horas no escuro, me arrebatou nas primeiras páginas.

“When Mr. Pirzada came to dine”, com a guerra civil que separou Daca do Paquistão, me ensinou tanto sobre guerras locais, mas foi Mr. Pirzada, acompanhando de longe a guerra, distante de sua família, que fez meu peito doer.

“The third and final continent” foi um oh-meu-deus com suas ilustrações sobre imigração, casamento, assistir a História do mundo e a história da família. James estava quase dormindo, mas eu fiz questão de ler para ele os três últimos parágrafos, porque não poderia ficar com eles só para mim.

Por fim, a escrita de Jhumpa Lahiri equilibra belissimamente a natureza curta dos contos com a profundidade das experiências narradas. Personagens bem construídos até o lado, contextos complexos, mas só ~20 páginas por história. Achei que fosse impossível alcançar esse equilíbrio.

Beautifully written! I was very moved by all the stories in this bundle. A real durwa was my favourite.
This book contains 9 short stories, about people from India/Bengali. Lahiri writes convincingly from different perspectives: the lives of old women, young children and families. Some living in India, some in the US or UK. There were common themes of belonging, trying to fit in while holding on to your culture.

A wonderful collection, though I felt as if it lost steam towards the end with a couple of the stories. But I really loved Lahiri's language and character presentation.

The first two stories ("A Temporary Matter" and "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine") were beautiful, heart-wringing. "The Treatment of Bibi Haldar" was very ableist.
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konkie44's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH

I read the first two stories and started the third but simply wasn't enjoying it enough to continue. The first story ended hopelessly depressing and while the second was more touching, I didn't feel inclined to go further. However, I am not a lover of short stories and sometimes struggle with contemporary fiction. The writing was easy to read yet not too simplistic but this just wasn't for me.

"My life is composed of such griefs you cannot even dream them." - Interpreter of Maladies (A Real Darwan), Jhumpa Lahiri


The stories have stayed with me.  With this collection, I'd take one story at a time (the author narrates) and stop to think about each one before moving on.  I can appreciate the common theme collectively, looking through the eyes of Bengali immigrants in different places and situations.


Quiet, stunning short stories all with different stories on marriage. Beautiful prose, imagery, emotion. Not a single bad story but some hit home stronger than others. Each story was satisfying even though I definitely would have liked more about some. Will definitely be reading more from her. Another book I am sorry I waited so dang long to actually read.

I was reading this for a class, and I enjoyed the stories. Jhumpa Lahiri's writing style is very elegant and composed. The experiences she describes in her book are moving and real; she knows what she's writing about. The short stories were very together in their shared themes, but each was a unique glimpse into an immigrant's life.

Each of Jhumpa Lahiri's short stories moved me in a unique and surprising way. Every chapter brought new characters with new struggles and new hopes. Lahiri has a gift for storytelling. She didn't need to brandish her prose with complicated metaphors or obvious philosophical observations. Her simple style led me to my own conclusions about morality, life, love, and culture.