The Interpreter of Maladies is a collection of short stories written by the author Jhumpa Lahiri. Her recent claim to fame was the book Namesake, which was made into a movie! The whole reason I began reading the book is because my sister-in-law recommended it and because it's by Jhumpa Lahiri!!
So I read the first story titled, 'A Temporary Matter' and I would like to mention, that it's one of the most depressing stories I have read in a really long time. Its about this Bengali couple living in the US and how their marriage disintegrates after the death (stillborn) of their first child. I was so depressed after reading this that I even fought with Paul for no reason!! :( This story sets the theme for most of the other stories, which basically describe Indian couples (mostly Bengali) in the US who are unhappy with their lives and end up cheating on each other!! For a newly wed Indian couple like me and Paul, this was seriously not the right book!! There were a couple of stories that weren't based on this theme. These were stories about poor ladies in Bengal who were either mistreated, raped or abandoned. I think the author needs a new hobby, you know, like Happiness!!!!
That said and done, her writing skills do deserve some commendation. I like the way in which she describes even the smallest nuances of Bengalis, like the big red bindi, the love for fish, the draw string pajams that the Bengali men always wear, and such many other little details.
If, for some odd reason you want to read the book, it is available on Google Books!!
All in all, I wouldn't recommend this book as recreational reading. Do so only if you are forced to, under gunpoint!
Reviewer: Rose Loney
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