Interpreter of Maladies

Sadhna and one of our mutual friends had been begging me to read The Interpreter of Maladies for the longest time, but I finally got around to it at the beginning of this summer. And let me just say, man did I do an injustice to myself by letting so much time pass by before reading this novel. The Interpreter of Maladies by Juhmpa Lahiri is a beautiful collection of short stories that range from love to deceit in family and other relationships. Lahiri does a wonderful job of tying traditional Indian culture with western ideologies to create stories that eased my American brown girl soul.

Normally, I don't read short stories, as I get irritated that the novel is choppy and inconsistent. However, this book was different for me. Though all the stories are unrelated to each other, they have a thread that ties all of them together in a subtle, yet alluring way. Without spoiling, I will just say that each and every story’s ending made me feel the same way - content, yet desiring more. Usually, it is a challenge for me to get through novels, as I always push them to the end of my day’s agenda, which usually ends with me sleeping instead of reading. But, I couldn’t keep Maladies down, leading to some weird stares from my parents who hadn’t seen me this enthralled with a book since I was in middle school.

The book is short and an easy read, ending at close to 200 pages and containing 9 stories. I would definitely recommend it to everyone, brown-skinned or not. Lahiri blends cultures with a fresh perspective that is neither racist nor forceful. Instead, the stories are respectful and expressed through graceful imagery that leaves one feeling wistful.

Deuces,

D