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Summary: a critique of interpreter of maladies
Review: Rarely can one find a work of literature that contains a number of separate and independent stories that are able to boldly stand on their own but, when pieced together, represent common themes and subjects. Interpreter of Maladies is a collection of nine fictional stories which combine various conflicts and resolutions allowing Lahiri to beautifully weave in common elements regarding family dynamics, the role of women and children within the family, secrets kept within such a system and the importance of India as the stronghold of life in America. Specific time periods are not always given but none of the stories really calls for a year in which to take place, as each is easily applicable to any reader at any time.
Lahiri's work contains nine stories, none of which rely on its neighboring story but all of which are supported and more definitely defined by the other. The short stories include: "A Temporary Matter," about a married couple who come to share secrets and discuss the loss of their baby during a neighborhood "lights-out" that occurs each night for approximately one week; "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine," a story about a young girl who learns the meaning of war, prayer and family through the trials of a friend; "Interpreter of Maladies," concerning the secret a woman keeps from her family, the definition of love and the interpreter's role on the subject; "A Real Durwan," one of the more melancholy of the works, about society's interpretation of a real durwan and the woman who represents that which is and is not a durwan; "Sexy," regarding the subject of infidelity and the true definition of the word "sexy"; "Mrs. Sen's," about a woman and young boy who gain their independence because of the other; "This Blessed House," a story about a husband and wife who find surprises in their new house and in each other; "The Treatment of Bibi Haldar," an ill woman's story about how others try to heal her and how she eventually heals herself; and "The Third and Final Continent" regarding the various processes by which individuals become a part of one another's families and the love that ensues. In the end, when contemplating the interwoven stories, one primary subject in all becomes quite clear. There is a simultaneous connection and disconnection to India in relation to the characters that live in various American cities. In analyzing the book, the element of the separation from India holds an entire summation in itself.
In regard to each individual story, one is drawn to keep reading, driven by the desire to see how every tension is replaced with the finality of relief. Each character is made to heal and gain a sense of self in a particular and unique way. By sprinkling each work with secrets and potential conflicts, Lahiri holds interest and causes the reader to desire each individual conclusion.
Each story, too, more fully defines what makes a family and the connection of love within it. "In truth," Lahiri writes, "Sanjeev did not know what love was, only what he thought it was not" (147), reinforcing the reader's unsure feelings through her characters. Every diverse family unit within the works either directly or indirectly faces the one question of what love is and how it relates to their unique circumstances.
Jhumpa Lahiri has done an exquisite job of connecting nine concentrated short stories and making them easily digestible by the reader. The primary morals in Interpreter of Maladies smoothly flow through one another with the ultimate effect of reinforcing certain, true ideas upon the reader. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri is a contemporary piece of literature that deals with issues sure to be present until the end of time.
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Summary: Elegance of a mathematical proof
Review: As a mathematician, I was amazed by the elegant structures of the stories in this book; the kind of simplicity and careful constructions can only be found in proofs written by experienced mathematicians. Using the favourite term of the Hungarian mathematician Paul Erdos, Jhumpa's stories are probably directly taken from the "Book" - where the most beautiful and elegant proofs (and now stories) can be found.
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Summary: Good Golly, Miss Molly.
Review: If we are treated to such a collection every decade we should count ourselves lucky. Simply seamless and spell-binding.
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Summary: All wonderful stories
Review: Let me first say that I enjoyed every one of the stories--there is a pleasent variety of situations presented in the book. I didn't find any of them a chore, at all, to read. They were interesting and each obviously built to an exciting climax. My favorite of them is "Sexy," in which, I think, the subject of the short is true/good love, even though there is no direct example of it in the story. Instead, we are shown the incumberances that keep of from this kind of love. However, even though I look back and say that "Sexy" is my favorite, I notice that I seem to want to choose each of the other stories as my second favorite. There are a few things about the book that I didn't like though:
1. The last line of "A Temporary Matter"--"They wept together, for the things they now knew"--seems to be a wrap-up, here's the moral of the story kind of line which left a bad taste.
2. The author re-uses the same trick taking a seemingly minor specific from the beginning and entering it back into the story in an important way in the end. Specificly, I notice the puffed rice/peanuts/chili peppers from "Interpreter of Maladies" and the eye gel from "Sexy." By the middle of the book, I found myself looking for this sort of thing. All in all, though, these are minor complaints. The stories are fascinating. One more thing I have to admit--I DID buy the book because of how beautiful the author looks in the picture on the back.
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Summary: I Cried....
Review: A real page turner. I simply could not put it down and carried it around wherever I went. It has a magical quality so much so that I was living each character as I read. As an immigrant from the subcontinent and as a woman, I could so identify with the characters that at times I found myself literally crying my eyes out. Her short stories manage to speak volumes and left me wishing for more.
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Summary: Vividly written and poignant
Review: 'Interpreter of Maladies' is a beautiful book. Lahiri's prose is delicate and draws you into the world of each of her stories. Her characters are lifelike and endearing, she really makes you feel for them in a short span of time, and the settings are vivid and clear. Each story is entrancing and delicate, there isn't a single one that isn't good. If I had to choose I would say that 'A Temporary Matter' is my favorite, with 'Mrs. Sen's' and 'Sexy' being close seconds. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, it is far too good to miss out on. The only shame here is that Lahiri has not written another book to follow up to this one. It would be a shame to waste such amazing talent.
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Summary: A Surreal peek into Indian Lives...A graceful book
Review: Ms. Jhumpa Lahiri is one of those authors with an eye for detail...her words flow from the pages and you drift into and are caught into her enchanting words filled with hope, dreams, bluntness, shock, reality, etc... These stories tell tales of Indian men and women alike living in America who deal with issues such as death, infedility,hopelessness, etc... A beautiful piece of prose which needs to be applauded!! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to explore the realms of reality and truth!
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Summary: Good for a first novel
Review: I am not sure how to rate this book. There is a part of me that wants to (and could easily) give it five stars. Each story has been told beautifully. Every story is interesting. And upon finishing the book I am sure that I will look for any future books by the same author. The problem that I face (and the reason I gave it 3 stars instead of the 5 it begs for, and in a lot of way deserves) is that I can't quite get out of my head the simple fact that there is nothing new here. I've had a subscription to the New Yorker for something like 15 years - since I was a teenager - and while this book stands out like as a kind of glowing example for everything that is good about the New Yorker style of writing, I have to admit that the style itself is becoming a bit of it's own genre, and thus is becoming a bit of a cliché. Don't get me wrong, this is a very good book and even though I only finished it last night, I have already started recommending it friends. This is the perfect kind of book for book clubs everywhere, for summer reading and for people who don't read much (but want something quasi-transcendent when they do). And to be honest, this is perfect kind of book for people (like me) who like to read a good first book and then secretly hope that the writer can, with every subsequent book, improve.
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Summary: Beautiful....!!
Review: To sum up in one simple word..... BEAUTIFUL.... The writing is some of the best I have read in years... A sheer master of poetic language... you will not be dissapointed
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Summary: A marvelous collection of stories
Review: I have a deal with the owner of an independent book store in my neighborhood - each quarter she chooses ten books and I buy them, read them and critique them. When this book was in my pile I deferred saying, "You know I don't read short stories." She looked at me and said, "You need to make an exception for these." Once again, she did not steer me wrong.
I was involved from the first story straight through to the end. The characters are fully developed and each of her stories is unique. Although I read them more than a year ago, I can recall the inhabitants of her stories, their conflicts and issues as clearly as if I had read the book yesterday. Don't let this collection - even if you don't read short stories - pass you by.
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