Although I haven’t yet read Jhumpa Lahiri’s Pulitzer Prize winning Interpreter of Maladies, after reading Unaccustomed Earth, I can understand why the committee was so impressed with her writing. Her stories of the Bengali immigrant experience were very well developed, and they had closure to them, something I’ve noticed is often times lacking in modern short stories. All the characters in the book have similar backgrounds — high intelligence and high potential — yet each story was unique. Each character was struggling with his or her own set of issues, most of them due to the individuals’ adjustment, or lack thereof, of living in a culture so different from their own or that of their parents.
Themes explored include family, loyalty, duty, and honor. Relationships encountered were father and daughter, husband and wife, brother and sister, roommate to roommate, and childhood friend to childhood friend. Birth, life, marriage, children, divorce, and death. These few stories covered a wide range of experiences of the Bengali immigrant living in America and illustrated well how being Bengali shaped the characters’ choices.
Highly recommended. I will definitely be reading Interpreter of Maladies and The Namesake at a later date.
2008, 333 pp.
Rating: 
Oh, The Namesake is marvelous. I haven’t read either of her story collections, as I’m not much of a short story reader, but I hear that they’re even better, so maybe I’ll give them a try.
I loved Interpreter of Maladies, and I really should’ve picked this one up when I saw it at the library the other day (I’m sure it won’t be there when I go back!). I’m glad you enjoyed it, and I hope Interpreter works out as well for ya.
I agree, the Namesake is wonderful. I am planning to read her other two works someday as well. It’s just lovely stuff!
Mmmm, I was right there with you. I went through Unaccustomed Earth without having read any other work by Lahiri.
But now? I’m in love. Every detail is absolutely rich. Absolutely wonderful.
I plan to listen to this on audiobook from the library soon – I’m looking forward to it.
I haven’t yet read *Interpreter of Maladies* or *Unaccustomed Earth* yet, but *The Namesake* is one of my favorite novels of the past few years!
She does a great job telling the immigrant/second-generation story — the difficuly of which customs and traditions to keep and which to let go of; the tension between the parents and the second-generation children. wonderful details.
I think you’ll love Interpreter of Maladies. It’s a terrific read and a great book to listen to on audiobook if you get the chance.
I did like Interpreter of Maladies, as much as I can like a short story collection. I’ll probably skip this one, though… being short short stories and all. I should read The Namesake, though.
BTW, I tagged you for a meme.
I’ve enjoyed The Namesake very much. She has a knack to explore cultural and generational difference. Her writings, in my opinion, will become a significant reflection on the immigrant experience in this melting pot.
She is a short story genius. Just finished this one and I think it’s my favorite Lahiri. Hard to say. thanks for the review.
My friend wanted me to get this book for him as bday gift.. I dint get it yet
… I should get one for him and one for me … reading your review, I can see why he was asking for this one 
Unaccustomed Earth was also my first experience with Lahiri and I loved the collection.
I’ve just finished Interpreter of Maladies and loved it. Very rich in detail.
This was my first book of Lahiri I read, though heard of Namesake. I agree with you, it is an interesting read… I intend to get a hold of the other two later.
I loved and will run out and purchase this book as soon as I get a chance. I just read the ARC of which is a collection of short stories about Russian immigrants. Check out my review at LibrarysCat Book Blog. It would be lovely to compare the two. If you would like my copy, send me an email and I will ship it right away.
This sure sounds like a great book! I really need to get my TBR pile shorter so I can add to it!
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