This is a wonderful book that offers us a glimpse
into another world.
It is a collection of nine short stories written primarily
about the meshing of Indian and American cultures.
The book has been honored with a Pulitzer Prize, as well as
numerous other awards.
A number of the stories are based in India and others
are based in New England. Quite
a few of the stories are about immigrant or expatriate Indian women
and the difficulties they experience in assimilating into the fast
paced, somewhat desensitized, American way of life.
Particularly touching was a question put forth by an Indian
woman who had recently relocated with her professor husband to the
Boston area. If I
screamed, would anyone come, was the question.
The response from the 11 year old boy she took care of after
school – maybe, and they would probably tell you to keep it down.
In India, she explained, everyone in the neighborhood would
come – whether it was a shout for help or a shout for joy.
People shared in each others joys and hardships.
This one exchange is so illustrative of a big cultural
divide.
It was touching to read about these Indian women whose
lives centered around meal preparation, pleasing their husbands,
and tending to their families and friends.
A much simpler life style, but who can say these women are
not as fulfilled as we American women who to try to have and do it
all. Equally interesting was reading about first generation Indian
women who blended their Indian roots with more American pursuits,
like professional careers. The
author has provided much to contemplate with her wonderful stories
and fascinating characters.
The first and last stories in the collection were my
favorites, both about young Indian couples living in the Boston
area. The first was
heartbreaking; the last was hopeful.
At the end, I wanted more, more, more.
Tell me more about what happened to these people.
Maybe to get more, I’ll have to read her new novel just
now hitting bookstores, The Namesake.
About the author: Jhumpa Lahiri was born in London, England, and raised in Rhode Island. She has taught creative writing at Boston University and the Rhode Island School of Design. Her debut collection, Interpreter of Maladies, won the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. In addition, it received the PEN/Hemingway and New Yorker Debut of the Year awards, among others. The Namesake, her first novel, hits stores in September 2003. She lives in New York with her husband and son.
