This book was most deserving of all the hype it received. While the stories had similiarities (usually touching Boston or the Northeast and all involving Indian immigrants), the stories involved very different and thought-provoking themes. I was very able to relate to the characters (i.e. I wanted to invite them all over for coffee/tea). The characters were fascinating in their human flaws and frailities. I loved this book. ( )

I really loved Jhumpa Lahiri's first two books, but I put off reading this one for a while because I made the mistake of reading some bad reviews when it first came out and lost interest. Knowing about the kinds of criticism that Unaccustomed Earth has received, I was not disappointed when I finally read it, just dissatisfied. The kinds of details that made Interpreter of Maladies and The Namesake so richly textured become mind-numbingly repetitive here. I can't decide if it is a sign of Lahiri's talent that (most of) her characters' bourgeois self-involvement is as suffocating to the reader as it to them, or if it's just mediocre writing. The restrained elegance of her previous books is still here; it just fails to shine through a lot of the time. ( )

I'm totally mystified why & how this writer has won the awards she has. Not impressed. No depth, no surprises, repetitive situations & characters -- this is in fact just solid, workmanlike reportage. REAL short story writing is what Alice Munro and Mavis Gallant do. But one thing she does get right -- that is her portrayal of men. I felt very at home reading these stories. I need to be transported a little further than my own experiences, familiar observations & limited writing abilities can take me. ( )

Lahiri's characters gain depth so quickly. Her stories read as if they were written effortlessly. The language is clear, the emotions ring true. The last three, glimpses of the same two characters at different ages and life circumstances, cap this incredibly rich collection of stories. As strong as The Interpreter of Maladies, Lahiri's writing never fails to provide a rewarding reading experience. Highly recommended. ( )

"Human nature will not flourish, any more than a potato, if it be planted and replanted, for too long a series of generations, in the same worn-out soil. My children have had other birthplaces, and, so far as their fortunes may be within my control, shall strike their roots into unaccustomed earth."
- Nathaniel Hawthorne, "The Custom-House"

This quotation by Nathaniel Hawthorne graces the first page of Jhumpa Lahiri's Unaccustomed Earth, and is one of the ideas that unites the collection of eight short stories. Lahiri does not always seem to agree with Hawthorne's statement; though her characters are often looking for new places to live, new definitions of the word "home," this movement does not, as Hawthorne believes, cause human nature to flourish. Instead her characters live static, unfulfilled lives, and struggle to express themselves to the people they love.

Lahiri's stories are not about grand adventures or horrible tragedies; instead, she writes about domestic life, and the bonds between parents and children, brothers and sisters, and husbands and wives. Each story in Unaccustomed Earth contains characters of Indian descent who have immigrated to the US, and so the depiction of Indian culture is extrememly vivid. Lahiri writes beautifully. Her prose is descriptive and complex, and the emotions of her characters shine through as though they were actual people in your life.

In general, I love short stories, and Lahiri is exceptionally skilled with this genre. Each narrative is a complete story, and can stand on its own, yet always left me wanting more. The stories contain enough similarities that they form a unified collection; however, these similarities never detracted from the individual stories. Though all alike, they are also distinct. The last three stories contain the same two characters, and could be read as a novella on their own. They are, in my opinion, the strongest stories in the book - though all eight narratives are wonderful.

I went looking for Lahiri's Interpreter of Maladies yesterday after reading a favourable review of it here on LT. Alas, my book store did not have it in stock, so I picked up Unaccustomed Earth instead. This proved to be a blessing, as Unaccustomed Earth was a beautiful read that was perfectly suited to my needs yesterday. It was a satisfying way to spend a few hours, and I will be sure to read the rest of Lahiri's work in the future. ( )