Unaccustomed Earth

Lahiri's latest is another completely satisfying, beautifully crafted collection of short stories. Resonating with emotional depth, Lahiri's chief strength is her subtlety. She can talk about things that all of us often feel but struggle to find words for. And her words are lyrical! Insightful but gentle, not intrusive. and somehow deeply satisfying.

In UNACCUSTOMED EARTH, Jhumpa Lahiri continues to impress with her clear-eyed attention to the smallest details of human conflicts. In these emotionally resonant short stories, she presents a diverse assembly of complex, sympathetic, three-dimensional characters. Several reader-reviewers have criticized Lahiri for focusing on Ivy League-educated, upper-middle-class Bengalis - these reviewers should realize that academic success and financial well-being are common among immigrant Bengalis in the U.S. What is remarkable to me is how authentically wide-ranging the characters' experiences are, despite their common roots and status. It is the author's perspicacity and meticulous crafting which make the prose in these stories appear simple and fluid.

I've enjoyed Ms. Lahiri since her early days as a short story writer. Her biggest criticism is that her writing is simple, using the vocabulary of a middle-schooler. But this does injustice to her clear and powerful prose, her attention to detail, and her honesty in relating the Indian immigrant and 1st generation experience. Ms. Lahiri's writing is not a multi-layered cake, but a simple flan done to perfection. It's smooth, pure and genuine, tasting of each ingredient without fuss. The anti-Salman Rushdie. Reading Ms. Lahiri is like talking to my sisters, explaining certain incidents of our common experience as Indian-Americans. Ms. Lahiri captures all the various narratives of this group: every age, every persuasion, although her characters tend to be Bengali. Gorgeous.

Jhumpa Lahiri is a writer's writer. These stories are very romantic about missed loves. She uses stream of consciousness, changes of point of view, description, storytelling, and other writing techniques very well. I am amazed at her style.
She writes what she knows. She is a Bengali immigrant. Her characters and stories reflect that heritage. Her stories contain culture but are not limited to the culture. She is describing the human condition that is universal to all: A father who is trying to make a new life and trying to make up to a daughter for past ills; a flat-mate who falls in love with another but dares not express that love; parents that set unrealistic standards for their children. The situations are real and universal. I learn about the Bengali people but I also learn about life through her writing.
I was expecting a full novel instead of short stories in the first part of the book and a novella in the second part. She writes about the different garments and dishes but explain them well. Her purpose is not to do that. Her purpose is to tell the story and detailed descriptions of the foods and garments would distract. The reader can always go to Google for more detailed information.
The book kept my focus. A good read as they say. But more importantly for me, I found myself smiling at the style and techniques in admiration and jealousy.

Loved it! So real: some stories are so sad. Great writing, as always.
Evelyn