Play Book Tag discussion

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri - 4 stars - My Review

This is one of the better collections of short stories I have read. The overarching theme is cultural displacement related to India. My two favorites are Sexy, which is about a romantic encounter that begins in a department store, and The Third and Final Continent, which follows a man from India who relocates to the UK and then to the US.

In Sexy, the main character gets carried away thinking she is getting involved in a fabulous romance. Let us just say her illusions are eventually brought back to reality. The Third and Final Continent is a poignant story that reflects the main character’s discomforts as he adapts to different cultures. It portrays how an eccentric centenarian helps the protagonist without even knowing how much of a difference she has made in his life. It had a big impact on me, and I was amazed that the author could pack so much poignancy into so few pages.

A Temporary Matter – 4 stars
When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine – 4
Interpreter of Maladies – 4
A Real Durwan – 2
Sexy - 5
Mrs. Sen’s – 3.5
This Blessed House – 3.5
The Treatment of Bibi Haldar – 3
The Third and Final Continent – 5

Thanks for including the story titles in your review. I'm trying to pay attention to those too because otherwise they all blend in together.

I loved this book. I think it holds up well to repeated readings. I agree with you about the last story. It was so intelligent and moving. I liked how it subtly tied in a few images or ideas from other stories. I wonder if it would be as powerful if you started with the last story.

I'll have to read "sexy" again to see how she did that. There was a story about a young couple that was better at the second reading. Maybe it was "This Blessed House."

This book is considered a great model for a cross-cultural short story cycle. There was a discussion with Zadie Smith and others a few years back about how a popular book might unwittingly spread stereotypes about a culture, for instance by a storyline about violent husbands. I like how this author balanced some potential stereotypes with a contrary view - such as the pair of stories about neighbors in an apartment building - one loving and one mean.

I'm looking for reviews on Alice Munro's stories. so that I can pick out some of the best to read, even if they aren't in the same collection.

Great observations, Nancy. I think the last story was saved for last to provide the biggest impact. It was by far my favorite.

I hope to include this in my reading this month. I have so many short story collections though, and very eclectic!

I think you would enjoy it, Theresa. It's a fairly quick read at about 200 pages total. I know what you mean about having lots of choices for short stories.

I love Lahiri's writing

Dug out my copy last night...when I finish my current read....

Book Concierge wrote: "I love Lahiri's writing"
Yes!
I read The Namesake not too long ago and really enjoyed it too

Theresa wrote: "Dug out my copy last night...when I finish my current read...."
Great! I will look forward to seeing what you think of it.

Joy D wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "I love Lahiri's writing"
Yes!
I read The Namesake not too long ago and really enjoyed it too"

Loved it when I read The Namesake a few years ago.

I have a copy of The Lowland which I need to get to at some point.

Lahiri is one of my favorite authors. So glad you enjoyed this one. I have some cool news in this regard. I was selected to participate as a discussion lead for Camp ToB (Tournament of Books) this summer, and I'm going to be discussing Whereabouts!

The audience for this activity is called the Commentariat, and I hope maybe some PBT members will be there for moral support.

Here's the announcement: https://themorningnews.org/article/an...

And here is the schedule:

June 2: No One Is Talking About This, first half
June 9: No One Is Talking About This to the end
June 16: Detransition, Baby, first half
June 23: Detransition, Baby to the end
June 30: Klara and the Sun, first half
July 7: VACATION
July 14: Klara and the Sun to the end
July 21: Whereabouts, first half This is my section
July 28: Whereabouts to the end
Aug. 4: Peaces, first half
Aug. 11: Peaces to the end
Aug. 18: Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch, first half
Aug. 25: Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch to the end
Sept. 1: Announce summer champion

At the end, everyone votes, and one of these books is entered into their main event, Tournament of Books.

Congratulations, Anita! That is so cool!

Anita wrote: "Lahiri is one of my favorite authors. So glad you enjoyed this one. I have some cool news in this regard. I was selected to participate as a discussion lead for Camp ToB (Tournament of Books) this ..."

Very cool, Anita!

Way to go, Anita!

Don't know if I can fit Whereabouts into my reading schedule in July, but I may just pop into the discussion thread.

That's awesome Anita. I'm not familiar with the tournament so I look forward to learning about it. It sounds fun.

I'm surprised I didn't hear anything about Lahiri's new books before this. I hope to read it in June or July.

I feel completely the opposite about this book. I'm currently forcing myself to finish it up for the monthly tag and Fly the Skies. I find that the stories are just lagging on and aren't really keeping my attention.
Guess it's not everyone's cup of tea.