Publication: 1999
Awards: 2000 Pulitzer; 1999 PEN/Hemingway; 1999 New Yorker Debut
Pages: 198

Jhumpa Lahiri's debut novel Interpreter of Maladies, a collection of nine short stories, is a poignant homage to the Indian-American. Each story is distinct, and where common threads of assimilation do run through the novel, Lahiri is subtler than writers like Amy Tan. What Lahiri lacks in exciting plot-twists, she compensates for in realistic, nuanced storytelling.

Short story compilations generally include a few memorable gems. Lahiri manages, however, to achieve the opposite. "A Real Durwan" and "The Treatment of Bibi Halder," both set in India and written when Lahiri was younger, are the only weaker stories, exposing flaws in refinement one would expect from a first novel. Narration in these stories is clunky, and the characters are not fully drawn. Furthermore, unnatural descriptions and plot morals are off-putting.

The remaining stories are beautifully written. "This Blessed House" and "The Third and Final Continent" incite laugh-out-loud humor--one of the most difficult tasks for a writer--within somewhat arduous stories (the former story's ending even alludes to Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper"). In "Sexy," the female protagonist is only able to realize her wrongdoings in the wake of a precocious seven-year-old, whose innocence and curiosity are satisfyingly authentic. A personal favorite, "Mrs. Sen's," resonates the despair the protagonist undergoes behind the wheel of a car, an obvious symbol for much more that is American. Each story is laden with parallels, metaphors, and symbolism, but because the plot takes center stage, emotions are never sacrificed for such literary depth.

The stories are initially slow-going, but after a few pages, it's difficult not to empathize with the characters. "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine" is a prime example of a story that ratchets up as the motivations of the characters are made apparent. By the end of the story, the unidentifiable sorrow that overwhelms the story is balanced by a vague understanding of the future of the story's characters. In this way, Lahiri leaves most stories open-ended, but provides enough closure not to irritate.

A few of these stories will become classics. Nevertheless, reading all of them is an experience; Lahiri's sequencing is intentional. She reaches across the subject of Indian-Americans to create a profoundly universal book. ( )

This slim volume was an absolute pleasure to read. Lahiri is a masterful storyteller, and what she is able to accomplish in a short story is incredible. ( )

I really enjoyed the stories in this book. Although some of them were sad the final story left me with a great deal of hope for the future and for humanity as a whole. After some rather depressing books for school this one felt uplifting. ( )

Is a novel by a Pulitzer winner author of Indian origin by name Jhumpa Lahiri, did i get that spelling right?.. hope so.
I have been wanting to read her book for quite some years and managed to do so over the weekend and I must say I'm impressed.
Hers is unlike any of the other books I have read for they are nine short stories with not much of a story in them and yet I like them.
There are nine stories that place its protagonists either in India or in Boston, US. The stories are about people, their characters their pains and pleasures, their mould, their outlook, their deepest desires, their flawed outlook and their rather delicate and intricate relations with one other .

The characters are very realistic and layered with such unique features you almost tend to believe that they are real life persons living their life quietly someplace. So much so that you start believing that this book is just a compilation of lifted portions from real life diaries of many individuals.

The book swings from moody, dark and up lifting lives of different characters. Each reader has their favourite and mine are the last two stories. The one of Bibi Haldar and the one of the third continent.
I will not delve into the plots or the lack of it, but suffice it to say that dexterity with which Jhumpa spins her layers around the characters gives them life in manner I have never seen before. You must be Indian and should have a little bit of been away experience to appreciate her work of art. Yes this is a work of art that needs to appreciated and not a cup of ice cream that can be enjoyed with gay abandon. It requires careful look and study to appreciate the texture of this book.
While I love this book, I cannot read such moody books all the time. Its good to sanitize one's self with such lovely prose every now and then.

A thoroughly enjoyable mix ( )