Reviews

The writing feels clear and so straightforward, building an immense juxtaposition with the complex emotions that Lahiri brings out in her characters and in her readers. I loved this book. Every story seemed to delve so deeply into the lives of its protagonists. Of all the stories, I especially liked "A Temporary Matter" and "Mrs. Sen's"--they seemed so real to me, and I cared so much about their characters, felt so hurt when they were suffering. I think the book was obsessed with the concept of ending in a way, but Lahiri seemed to investigate the concept with an ambivalence and tenderness that really touched me.

whimsicalmeerkat's review against another edition

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3.0

Overall, very enjoyable. Like most short story collections, some were better than others. I found it more enjoyable when I read other things in between reading the stories, as many of them are extremely similar.

kidasquared's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

4.25

the stories in Maladies are lived-in and direct, written with deep confidence and trust, beautifully blending light drama with emotional depth through a Desi perspective. Lahiri highlights the slow turns of relationships with tact and intimacy, you can feel their emotional sighs on your neck.

with only one story—"A Real Durwan"—not piquing any interest, possibly due to my own distraction or environment, the rest ranged from good to great. "nothing much happens, but you feel your brain get rewired a little," a friend said when describing one of her novels. this feels true to these stories: you are put in line with the heart of these characters and gain access to empathy with such subtly, you feel yourself change a bit.

A-