Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

4 reviews

mariebrunelm's review against another edition

emotional reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

This collection of short stories centers on the experiences of first- or second-generation Bengali immigrants in the USA. I picked it up very randomly when my local library had a clear-out of the English section, as an opportunity to branch out. And it worked !

The first short stories in the book are on the longer side and introduce unrelated characters, whereas the last four shorter pieces follow the same two characters at different points of their lives, alternating between their two points of view.

Although it took me a few dozen pages to ease into the slow rhythm of the narratives (and that’s from someone who had just read a slow and contemplative novel just before that one), the book grew on me and I appreciated more and more as I progressed. All of the stories center on family relationships and the way people dance between their two cultures. Yet the author does an excellent job, it seemed to me, of charting their identity as something other than an either/or, often in contrast with parental figures. The main characters here are quietly determined not to disappear within a solely American or solely Bengali identity, but find meaningful ways to be both. Even though there are no at-length discussions of culture and heritage, those themes pervade the characters’ daily life and shine through here and there, making this book a thoughtful anthology that will probably speak to many readers embracing both aspects of their double heritage.

CW: death of parent, grief, cancer, infidelity, alcoholism.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Alcoholism

Moderate: Cancer and Infidelity

rrio2x's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

tsnhjhn's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

a collection of short stories centering bengali characters from calcutta.

could relate to some of the cultural aspects but it was definitely very second generation immigrant and upper middle class family centric. (also a small note but it felt slightly pretentious that almost every single character went to an ivy or an otherwise very prestigious college)

continuing feeling of melancholy and loneliness throughout the book with some heavy themes so definitely not a lighthearted feel-good read, but it was refreshing to read about characters with complicated lives that felt very human, albeit depressing

my favorite one was definitely the very first one, the titular story, unaccustomed earth; it made me feel very reflective of my own future and the future of my relationships with my parents and siblings and grief and death and moving on and abandonment. carved a hole in my heart

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Alcoholism, Addiction, Infidelity, and Death of parent

Moderate: Suicide attempt

Minor: Cancer

maviemerveilleuse's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity and Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer