A review by farbooksventure
In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri

emotional informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

Jhumpa Lahiri's works have been on my radar for quite some time now. I am glad to be introduced to her writings through this book at last.

In Other Words is Lahiri's first book in Italian. It is a collection of writings about her experience learning Italian. How that journey started, how long it was in progress, and how she (eventually) got to the point where she writes in that language.

On one hand, It was an exploration of how one immerse oneself in a new language. On another hand, it was also an author's attempt at reinventing themself in a completely different language. At some points, it also serves as Lahiri’s attempt at grappling with her 'in-between' identity. 

“I write on the margins, just as I’ve always lived on the margins of countries, of cultures. A peripheral zone where it’s impossible for me to feel rooted, but where I’m comfortable. The only zone where I think that, in some way, I belong.”

In Other Words leaves quite a deep impression on me first and foremost simply because I love reading about all-things-language. I am also in the middle of my Spanish learning journey, so this book came to me at the perfect time.

More than that though, I can relate to the sentiment that Lahiri conveyed regarding her mother tongue. About how she felt oddly distanced from her it. This has been a feeling I am grappling with too these past years about Baso Minang. Thankfully, I’m way luckier than Lahiri in the sense that I do find home & feel secure in Bahasa Indonesia. Reading about how English never to feel safe to her is quite heartbreaking.

Writing-wise, I love how Lahiri plays around with simple language to convey a really sharp & memorable passage. I can’t wait to explore her fiction works now after I’m finished with this one. Apparently, the English translation of her second book in Italian was released last year? I hope she writes another nonfiction in the same vein as this one. I’m curious how her mind changes after all these years. Especially about translating her own works.

If you love reading about language or are interested in that realm, I think you’re going to appreciate In Other Words. I would also recommend it to people who love reading about the behind-the-scenes process of a seasoned author.