I've read quite a few novels by writers from India, but this is the first time I've read a collection of short stories focused on that country.
Jhumpa Lahiri's Interpreter of Maladies floats between India and the United States. In her stories about immigrants, Lahiri deftly examines the reactions to changes in cultures, the ties that keep people linked to their homelands, and the family ties that pull us in what sometimes seem to be opposite directions.
Other stories, such as the title story, look at people of Indian descent who visit the country, and the difficulties that sometimes occur as they go in search of their heritage.
Lahiri shows great skill in her explorations of human relations, and the powerful effect that our heritage can have on us. And really, that's what Lahiri's stories are all about, relationships between parent and child, lovers, siblings, young and old, American and immigrant, husband and wife, and even simply between residents of the same building.
Lahiri is an engaging writer and handles dialogue very well. Her writing style is straightforward, solid and narrative driven. Things happen in Lahiri's stories, yet her lack of prosy attention to details does not detract from the enjoyment of these stories. Interpreter of Maladies is definitely worth the read.
