Friday, Aug 8, 2008

Unaccustomed Earth

My first experience with Jhumpa Lahiri was a good one…

I recently read Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri.  Eight stories, all with similarities embracing the Indian culture and history, written to weave you into stories about relationships.  In the first story of Part One, “Unaccumstomed Earth” does a wonderful job capturing the reader.  I fell in love with Ruma’s father and the way that his visit impacted her life.  I equally enjoyed “A Choice of Accomodations” and “Only Goodness.”  As I understand that J. Lahiri is a “internationally best-seilling, Pulitzer Prize-Winning author,” I expected an incredible read in this collection of stories.  She does have a beautiful way of painting a picture in the reader’s mind so that you can vividly imagine the setting of the stories.  Her writing also kept me pulling for the enlightenment of the narrator of each particular story.

It was a good read.  Short stories are a nice change of pace.. like a buffet where you get a bit of multiple choices.  The common thread was the Indian culture’s impact on these American lives.  Guess it’s time to read that Pultizer Prize Winner, The Namesake.

4 Comments