Community Reviews
This book caught my attention while browsing the bookstore. I took a chance on it, and was captivated. This is a short story collection about the lives and relationships among Indian emigres, and Lahiri's writing is clear, uncluttered, but evocative. Her ability to create characters who come alive even using almost sparing language is a huge part of her talent. I'll look forward to reading more of her work.
As a general rule, I hate short stories. I find them frustrating because just as I am getting into a plot, falling in love with a character (or getting a good hate going), it's over! Well, this was no exception. Each one of these short stories has the makings of its own novel that I would be happy to read.
Indian culture is so rich and beautiful, albeit sometimes harsh. Lahiri invites the reader to immerse themselves in the culture, not holding anything back. She touches on everything from the partition of India, to arranged marriages, to immigrants making lives for themselves in America. It was a beautiful read.
Indian culture is so rich and beautiful, albeit sometimes harsh. Lahiri invites the reader to immerse themselves in the culture, not holding anything back. She touches on everything from the partition of India, to arranged marriages, to immigrants making lives for themselves in America. It was a beautiful read.
Short stories. Excellent. Indian American couples and families, navigating America, work, relationships. My favorite was the first story. It was also heartbreaking to read about the break up of a relationship. All of the characters in each story for fully developed, you drop into a slice of their lives, end it all felt very authentic.
I know this is a the Pulitzer Prize fiction winner for 2000, but let's pretend for a moment that I don't know that. I think this was a solid collection, but not quite up to 5 stars.
I think the short stories "A Temporary Matter" and "This Blessed House," which were both short stories about married couples were my favorite. I would have enjoyed reading more about either couple in a full-length novel, which is maybe more of a complaint than praise when it comes to short stories.
I also really liked "The Treatment of Bibi Haldar," which was a little messed up if you take a feminist reading of it, but real life isn't always very feminist either.
I think the short stories "A Temporary Matter" and "This Blessed House," which were both short stories about married couples were my favorite. I would have enjoyed reading more about either couple in a full-length novel, which is maybe more of a complaint than praise when it comes to short stories.
I also really liked "The Treatment of Bibi Haldar," which was a little messed up if you take a feminist reading of it, but real life isn't always very feminist either.
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