Scan barcode
audc's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
3.5 | 4.19 | | - | 5 | - | 3.5 | 4.5
Two stories I couldn’t bring myself to rate.
There’s something to be said about how the author explores these relationships. Always ending them in disaster.
Two stories I couldn’t bring myself to rate.
There’s something to be said about how the author explores these relationships. Always ending them in disaster.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Addiction, Alcoholism, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Drug use, Miscarriage, Murder, Blood, Death, Animal death, Infidelity, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Child abuse, War, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Ableism
carlytenille's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Terminal illness, Death, and Grief
ada_henry's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I was recommended by a teacher at school to read something by Jhumpa Lahiri, and this just happened to be sitting on my mother's shelf, so I picked it up earlier this week. It did not disappoint.
PART ONE
Unaccustomed Earth
In my opinion, this was the best of any of the stories in part one. It chronicled a few days in the life of Ruma, a Bengali lawyer with an American husband, dead mother, and young son living in the northwest United States. I found Unaccustomed Earth to be so incredibly well-written. Although it had a storyline and a 'moral' of sorts, I thought it was very calming and therapeutic to read. Just the boring, day-to-day life of a regular old person. 5/5 stars.
Hell-Heaven
I barely remember anything in Hell-Heaven, but if I had to guess, it would involve a Bengali person displeasing their parents by marrying an American and living somewhere in Massachusetts. I believe this was the one with Parnab Chakraborty, which I didn't love. 3/5 stars.
A Choice of Accommodations
A Bengali man marries an American woman studying to become a doctor, and they have two children. The part of their lives that this story covers happen to be during the wedding of one of Amit, one of the main character's, classmate's wedding. Like the other stories in part one of Unaccustomed Earth, it focused on dying love. Are all people doomed to fall out of love as they get older? Is their any romance in getting old together? Or are all relationships set up to fail at middle age? I'm not sure. 4/5 stars.
Only Goodness
An ironic title for a story in which many bad things happen. Rahul, a bright young boy becomes an alcoholic that drops out of Cornell. He is the younger brother of Sudha, the main character, a Bengali woman who marries a white man living in London. They have a young son. Pretty much the same story as the previous two. I swear all these people must be related because there is no way they all live in Massachusetts. I would honestly believe that everyone in this book is the same person, just in different lives. This one was shockingly heartbreaking, but it was well-written, so I give it a 5/5.
Nobody's Business
Another story of dwindling love, high expectations, and the desire to live a undefined life. This one was about Sang, a Harvard dropout who worked at a bookstore. While I did like this one, there was something about Paul's character that I didn't like. I don't think he was poorly written or that there was anything wrong with him as a (fictional) person, I just didn't like him. 3.5/5 stars.
In short, Part One of Unaccustomed Earth was both a succinct and poetic expression of what it means to live and love in a modern world. 4.1/5.
PART TWO: HEMA & KAUSHIK
Once in a Lifetime
Written in strange, almost-but-not-quite second person prose, Once in a Lifetime was written from Hema's perspective, as if in a letter drafted from memory to Kaushik. (Which... almost makes sense, given the ending of the book.) Once again detailing love, life, and death from the point of view of Bengalis living in Massachusetts, this chapter of Unaccustomed Earth was both moving and deeply upsetting. 4/5 stars.
Year's End
This time from Kaushik's perspective, and about restarting life in the face of death. Kaushik learns to move on, live, and love again after his mother's death 4/5 stars.
Going Ashore
Hema and Kaushik meet once again in a new life, years passed since they used to know each other. Beautifully written and heart-shattering, Going Ashore is the perfect ending to this book. 5/5.
Part Two overall: 4.3/5.
In all, Unaccustomed Earth sums up the various stages of life and love, doing a phenomenal job of showing how people aren't inherently good or bad, and proving that even the biggest mistakes don't make them unworthy of being loved. 4.2/5 stars according to math, but I'd give it a 5/5. A must-read.
PART ONE
Unaccustomed Earth
In my opinion, this was the best of any of the stories in part one. It chronicled a few days in the life of Ruma, a Bengali lawyer with an American husband, dead mother, and young son living in the northwest United States. I found Unaccustomed Earth to be so incredibly well-written. Although it had a storyline and a 'moral' of sorts, I thought it was very calming and therapeutic to read. Just the boring, day-to-day life of a regular old person. 5/5 stars.
Hell-Heaven
I barely remember anything in Hell-Heaven, but if I had to guess, it would involve a Bengali person displeasing their parents by marrying an American and living somewhere in Massachusetts. I believe this was the one with Parnab Chakraborty, which I didn't love. 3/5 stars.
A Choice of Accommodations
A Bengali man marries an American woman studying to become a doctor, and they have two children. The part of their lives that this story covers happen to be during the wedding of one of Amit, one of the main character's, classmate's wedding. Like the other stories in part one of Unaccustomed Earth, it focused on dying love. Are all people doomed to fall out of love as they get older? Is their any romance in getting old together? Or are all relationships set up to fail at middle age? I'm not sure. 4/5 stars.
Only Goodness
An ironic title for a story in which many bad things happen. Rahul, a bright young boy becomes an alcoholic that drops out of Cornell. He is the younger brother of Sudha, the main character, a Bengali woman who marries a white man living in London. They have a young son. Pretty much the same story as the previous two. I swear all these people must be related because there is no way they all live in Massachusetts. I would honestly believe that everyone in this book is the same person, just in different lives. This one was shockingly heartbreaking, but it was well-written, so I give it a 5/5.
Nobody's Business
Another story of dwindling love, high expectations, and the desire to live a undefined life. This one was about Sang, a Harvard dropout who worked at a bookstore. While I did like this one, there was something about Paul's character that I didn't like. I don't think he was poorly written or that there was anything wrong with him as a (fictional) person, I just didn't like him. 3.5/5 stars.
In short, Part One of Unaccustomed Earth was both a succinct and poetic expression of what it means to live and love in a modern world. 4.1/5.
PART TWO: HEMA & KAUSHIK
Once in a Lifetime
Written in strange, almost-but-not-quite second person prose, Once in a Lifetime was written from Hema's perspective, as if in a letter drafted from memory to Kaushik. (Which... almost makes sense, given the ending of the book.) Once again detailing love, life, and death from the point of view of Bengalis living in Massachusetts, this chapter of Unaccustomed Earth was both moving and deeply upsetting. 4/5 stars.
Year's End
This time from Kaushik's perspective, and about restarting life in the face of death. Kaushik learns to move on, live, and love again after
Going Ashore
Hema and Kaushik meet once again in a new life, years passed since they used to know each other. Beautifully written and heart-shattering, Going Ashore is the perfect ending to this book. 5/5.
Part Two overall: 4.3/5.
In all, Unaccustomed Earth sums up the various stages of life and love, doing a phenomenal job of showing how people aren't inherently good or bad, and proving that even the biggest mistakes don't make them unworthy of being loved. 4.2/5 stars according to math, but I'd give it a 5/5. A must-read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
internationalreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Death, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Grief, Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Sexual content
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
claudia_bow's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Medical trauma, and Alcoholism
More...