Rating: 
Summary: best short stories ive ever read
Review: the author has such a beautiful writing style, the stories are all fantastic (although some more fantastic than others) and i just devoured this book. ive never read a book quite like this one and i hope i will sometime in the future, although i probably wont find one as satisfying. all i have is praise for this book.
Rating: 
Summary: I am a teenage guy and I liked it
Review: This was one of the two books that I needed to read for summer reading. At first I thought I wouldn't like it, but I actually did. Out of the 9 stories, I wasn't too fond of three of them- "A real Durwan", "this blessed house", and "the treatment of bibi haldar". Others especially "Sexy" and "the third and final continent" were great (those two were my favorite). For some of them, I wished that the story didn't end because I liked it so much. The author's writing style is very good and did not bore me. There is some sexuality in it that is interesting for teenage guys :). Also I like the use of brand names, places, and colleges that can help me further relate to the characters. It probably also helped that my girlfriend and one of my friends is Indian. Had I enjoyed all 9 stories, I would have given it a 5/5. All in all, its a good book for everyone, even the white suburban middle to upperclass teenage male.
Rating:
Summary: Story Telling at its best
Review: Hats off to Jhumpa Lahiri - I can't wait for another book from her. Simple stories portraying Indian and American culture - a must read book. Jhumpa's style of writing is truly excellent. Every story is so well written that it keeps you absorbed throughout as you finish the book. If you are one of those who haven't read this one, please grab one now and read it.
Rating:
Summary: Enriching...
Review: A delightful, enriching collection of little masterpieces, IoM deserves every bit of the considerable accolades it has received. Jhumpa Lahiri explores myriad aspects of human emotion in this tautly written short-story collection. As the back-cover suggests, the settings for these range from Eastern India to the Eastern US in a terrific east-west 'Masala'. Refreshingly, there is no sign of any excessive patronization that one sees very frequently in works involving India or Indians- there was a danger of this creeping in, considering that the author has lived outside India throughout her life. Even in the stories involving Indians settled abroad, Lahiri doesnt go overboard with the nostalgia-angle but weaves beautiful tales around this very human impulse. All in all, a great buy - go for it!
Rating:
Summary: An inspiring collection
Review: THis book is truly wonderful! A must read for any appreciator of Indian culture. Lahiri has the gift of capturing Indian as well as AMerican cultures, and the cross-cultural conflicts between the two. I draw personal inspiration from this fine collection of short stories.
Rating:
Summary: Can't Wait for Lahiri's New Novel
Review: What a wonderful collection! I can't wait to read her new novel!
Rating:
Summary: Indian culture + American culture = ?
Review: Lahiri presents a riveting outlook on American culture's affect on people from India in this collection of short stories. Most of the stories involve assimilation, which proves to be quite interesting, for in doing so, Lahiri provides accurate Indian information and is really able to show the importance of keeping one's heritage (or in some cases, the importance of adapting a new one). Mixed in with this theme are several others, such as relationships. Lahiri's stories contain a good bit of symbolism, too, which I really enjoyed. Overall, this book is a great read for those interested in other cultures, relationships, and digging for meaning within a work. None of the works are humorous, if that's what you are into. Most are pretty sad. Not all are 5 stars, but I couldn't give this collection anything less. It's also a pretty easy read.
Rating:
Summary: Pulitzer Lite
Review: Interpreter of Maladies is a collection of short stories dealing with Indains (from India) living in America, Indian-Americans traveling in India, and Indians living in India. The stories are all heartwarming, happy and most of the time, hilarious. I was surprised to see that Interpreter of Maladies had won the Pulitzer Prize, because it is not really an example of literature. In my opinion, its redeeming quality is its entertainment value. The only major issue discussed is the immigrant experience, however, this has been done many times, and done better. Lahiri has a sure talent for crafting smart and witty stories, and I will await her novel scheduled for release later in this year. However, don't come to Interpreter of Maladies looking for a life-altering experience or for any enduring lessons. This collection is best enjoyed as entertainment.
Rating:
Summary: great potential seen in very very good stories
Review: These short stories, as fine ones should, allows the reader to enter alien lives quickly and succinctly. The people she describes as usually sad and lonely, locked in meaningless relationships and drifting in purpose. While I think that she is too pessimistic about reliationships - they all have their ups and downs and she assumes that we get stuck down - I was very moved by her tales and enjoyed the density of her very very fine prose. This is a writer to watch, and I will return to these stories and watch for longer fiction from her. Warmly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A great collection of short stories!
Review: This is a great collection of short stories. You never seem to realise that this is the author's first publication. The narration is simple, lucid and the story just flows naturally, and you keep turning up the pages and before you even know you have begun the next story. What is more striking is that the characters she potraits are people whom we meet all the time, neither like the fictional heros nor like the fictional villans. They are the typical people next door, and she shows that all of them have their own story. A great book. I will probably read it again, after all "A thing of beauty is a joy forever"...
|
