Rating: 
Summary: Lush, Lovely
Review: I always hesitate before I read a collection of short stories. Somehow if I sit down to read, I want to sink into a story that will last several hundred pages not ten."Interpreter of Maladies" proved to be a wonderful exception to my rule. Nine stories comprise this collection. Each story can be read and discussed on its own merits or the collection can be viewed and analyzed as a whole. Several themes run through most stories: the traditions of the Indian heritage set against New England, the different mutations of marriage or partnership and the love for one's country either old or new and adopted. My favorite stories included:
"A Temporary Matter"--in which a young Indian couple in Boston, forced to live without lights for a week, plays a cruel "truth or dare" game with each other which effectively ends their marriage "Sexy"--in which a young Midwestern, American woman who has moved to Boston becomes involved with a married Indian investment banker who finds her "sexy" "This Blessed House"--in which a young, newly married, well-educated Indian American couple adjust to marriage in their new home which has a hidden trove of Christian memorabilia. Though they did date prior to their nuptial ceremony, their marriage was effectively an "arranged" partnership by their parents "The Third and Final Continent"--so beautiful, a young Indian man who has emigrated to Boston lives with a 103-year old landlady who can't believe a man has just landed on the moon (it's 1969) By the end of the book, you have a sense of traditions and sensibilities that comprise Indian culture. I know now the importance of fresh fish, the fact that an arranged marriage probably has as much chance of working-or not-as a non-arranged one, the emphasis on higher education at prestigious schools, the fact that married women of a certain caste paint the part in their hair with vermillion. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy short story collections, who like modern fiction and female writers, who seek out books which focus on different cultures. I also would encourage all lovers of good literature-whether or not you are usually indifferent to short story collections--that this is a wonderful BOOK not just nine stories next to each other.
Rating: 
Summary: It really makes you think about the story you just read
Review: It has been a while that I have read a book that touches such subtle emotions in everyday life. After each story, I was forced to think about the depth of the story. I think the author is very well tuned with the characters and is very sensitive in describing minute details. She also varies the language and tone of words depending on the characters and settings of the story. For example educated characters use better forms of english and likewise for other characters. I recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Deep cross-cultural story selection
Review: This is an interesting book that is gaining momentum in the spirit of Bridges of Madison County. Perhaps it's mass appeal was diminished by the Pulitzer, but this book approaches changing feelings of love, resentment and trust with a unique level of depth and insight. It's not hard to see where both the buzz and acclaim are coming from. The series of short stories starts on the darker side, with characters coming to grips with faded or lost love. As the stories move on, they cover what happens to trust in a relationship, infidelity, filial relationships and eventually what makes love grow. Heady stuff for could otherwise appear as light reading. Ms. Lahiri draws from her Indian culture and American home to infuse the stories with cross-cultural themes. The characters come out as real, and you are drawn in to their feelings.
Rating: 
Summary: Each story is its own little world
Review: I was impressed with this group of stories and to be honest, I am not really a short story gal. But each of these stories created an entire universe rich in description and deep characters. My favorite, I think, is the interpreter who taxis the couple to sightseeing [the story which gives the collection its title.] I'm interested in reading a full-length novel from this author. She shows tremendous promise. The general theme of the stories was somewhat sad and dark, but I maintained interest throughout the book.
Rating:
Summary: Don't Wait to Read this Wonderful Book!
Review: My first impression of this book was that these were stories of "foreigners" - of unfamiliar people and places. I felt (initially) unwilling to struggle against this unfamiliarity, and for that I am sorely ashamed. In fact, the stories themselves deal quite eloquently of this very struggle, the pain of leaving the familiar and transplanting oneself into new and different surroundings. Lahiri describes both the excitement and loneliness of making this cultural jump, and she does so beautifully. As she unfolds these tales of biculturalism, she invites us into the inner experience of her characters, facilitating a poignant empathy for even a reluctant or unimaginative reader. This is simply a real treasure! Also recommended: Life of Pi by Martel, The Losers' Club by Richard Perez
Rating:
Summary: Defining moments
Review: Structure-wise the book is a showcase of point of views, which makes one feel as if the book was intended as a study on writing styles. Stories are written in the first person voice (as a Indian girl, as a just married Indian man), in third person voice, and as an intrusive author (in "the treatment of Bibi Haldar"). Events mostly take place in the greater Boston area (which may explain the book's popularity in New England) and Bengal, India. The WSJ review on the back cover is misleading in that not all stories concern immigrants (two short stories concern Indians living in India). However each story has at least one Indian protagonist. The stories concern snapshots of lives, defining moments of characters. By "defining moments" I do not mean anything grand. These are moments that occur in everyday life, events so banal that they seem negligible at first sight. Yet those moments impact the protagonists in the way that life becomes no longer the same for them. By confessing that their miscarried baby was a boy over a forced (the electricity went out) candle-light dinner, a deteriorating marriage is salvaged (in "a temporary matter"); a seven year old boy's compliment "you are sexy" induces her relationship with a married man to end (upon hearing it she suddenly realizes she is not unique -- in "sexy"). Lahiri is a meticulous writer. You will almost be able to smell her egg curries and feel her bright colored saris. But it is really her quiet, suggestive prose that makes one want more.
Rating:
Summary: Many Quiet Astonishments
Review: Lahiri's ability to deliever the "punch" in a story is so sweet, you never know that you got hit until it's all over. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and would reccommend it anytime.
My favorites are "sexy", "a temporary matter" and "the third and final continent".
Rating:
Summary: Good,not excellent
Review: Jhumpa Lahiri is a good writer. But in my opinion this novel is overrated. As an Indian, I wasn't excited at the way she brought out the characters, but perhaps that is because I've lived mostly in India. There was nothing fresh, the stories and characters were banal. Nothing tickled the brain, nothing pulled at the heart either. Coming to the good part, the stories have variety and that should keep you interested if you like reading about everyday lives without trying to search for depth in those characters.
Rating:
Summary: Pulitzer Prize?
Review: If this book won the Pulitzer, I should win the Nobel, because even I can write a whole helluva lot better than this. This book is overated and it was a disappointment. I will try to read her new book "The Namesake". Don't get me wrong; she is a good writer, but this book is not that good. I think her winning of the Pulitzer was political.
Rating: 
Summary: Dull pretense
Review: This is not the worst book I have ever read, but that does not make it good, either. I might have have been inclined to give this 2 stars, but after seeing all the glowing reviews I got annoyed. I'm convinced that the only reason this won a Pulitzer is because it is written by an Indian woman, writing about other cultures. (& prob the only reason it has gotten as good as reviews as it has). Not to mention that the publishing industry is so focused on "intent" over "result"- they will be more willing to let a woman of another culture yap about her kin than if the same yapping was done by a dead white male. (Or if it's about rape/incest/abuse/suffering/etc then it's OK too.)
Frankly, the characters in these stories are boring. The situations are dull and predictable. Overall, her writing is pretentious. Critics never talk about being "pretentious" anymore. It's easily dismissed as "style". The 1st story "A Temporary Matter" has the most potential. It wasn't a bad story, but not really good, either. There is no pizazz in her dialogue & the characters are banal and generic. I can't argue if anyone "likes" this book. But I can say that I read a lot & when I see nothing new (which is most of the case) I have no reservation in saying it, Pulitzer or not. But then again, if this is Pulitzer worthy material, one cannot aspire too high. Afterall, with garbage like "Saving Private Ryan" winning Oscars (Did I live a good life? Tell me I'm a good man- boo hoo) one cannot hope for too much. At least this book isn't quite as bad as that shlock epic.
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