Scan barcode
A review by barbz
Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
If you'd like to read a female author's take on the classic "manic pixie dream girl" in a similar way to "My Year Of Rest and Relaxation" this book might be a five star for you. However, the constant reminder of how the main character struggled to see other woman as human beings, was enough to make the book unbearable for me.
A character that takes on burdens that are not her own, constantly holds other woman accountable for every single mishap, minimizes even her mother and friends to their relationships to man or their kids and idolizes her dead father to the point of making him responsible for every single decision she makes, is at least annoying to read about.
Jhumpa Lahiri`s writing isn`t the issue here, although her prose isn`t anything out of this world, she holds her own style quite masterfully. The reading flows well enough, as the book is composed by short vignettes titled after the place the main character finds herself in.
The story in and of itself seems to attemp a Woolf esq stream of consciousness style, but it maintains itself on a single perspective. Unfortunately, one I felt was too shallow to actually add anything new.
In the future, I might attempt reading another of Jhumpa Lahiri's books, as they seem distinct enough to never be told from this particular character''s point of view ever again.
A character that takes on burdens that are not her own, constantly holds other woman accountable for every single mishap, minimizes even her mother and friends to their relationships to man or their kids and idolizes her dead father to the point of making him responsible for every single decision she makes, is at least annoying to read about.
Jhumpa Lahiri`s writing isn`t the issue here, although her prose isn`t anything out of this world, she holds her own style quite masterfully. The reading flows well enough, as the book is composed by short vignettes titled after the place the main character finds herself in.
The story in and of itself seems to attemp a Woolf esq stream of consciousness style, but it maintains itself on a single perspective. Unfortunately, one I felt was too shallow to actually add anything new.
In the future, I might attempt reading another of Jhumpa Lahiri's books, as they seem distinct enough to never be told from this particular character''s point of view ever again.