Apr 30, 2002 07:41 AM
16689 Views
(Updated Apr 30, 2002 07:44 AM)
THis book is great. I have developed a habit of reading between the lines. I dont read it all. It makes my reading very speedy. Its a drawback for literature but a boon for scientific readings. Thats why literary books need to grow on me and this one just did it. It did it so fast that once I started I could not stop. I also tried Arundhati roys ''god of small things'' which has made more waves then Jhumpa Lahri's Inter....meledies'' It was a good book but lack the element of story telling. Arundhati used more ornated language, more similies, oxymorons etc. She has the effect of Indian literature where they do compare eyes with lotus or deers eyes. This is new for western world but not for we Indians (am I right? afterall I am from science not in literature, so correct me if I am wrong).
Writing short stories is more difficult. You have to, describe the whole thing in a short way. Many feel, its easy to do, but I dont. You can tell short stories but to make them as effective as Jhumpa did, only a master can do it. She deserved the pulitzer prize. Jhumpa lahri is a complete stroy teller. She has the grip on characters and human emotions. The best fiction is ''where the reality intersects with imagination''. You should feel the character described has a shadow of somebody you know. I exactly felt that way. I felt like, all this written here is a part of my life. The characters are so real, so close to heart. Each stroy liberates a ghost inside you. This idea of ghost is not mine, but I read it somewhere. Accroding to that we all have ghost inside us, trapped, they make us feel unconfortable and they better be released. I developed this idea more. I do feel, when a kid we are scared of those non existing monster and dark, but as we grow we have more fears. We fear of so many thing and each fear is a ghost trapped in you. You rlease one in you when ever you face one of your fears. Each story told by Jhumpa does it.
The stories do catch the emotions of NRI indians write out of there heart. The title stroy ''Interpreter Of Maladies'', shows the infatuation of one guy (Mr. Kapasi) with one lady (Mrs. Das), which just washes away when he see the reality. It is sweet romance which when crosses the line, make him to run away. The story left you with so many questions.
''Mrs Sen'' is one of the stories which I loved. Mrs. Sen is a simple lady, who loves more to be close to her family and people. She is not having any ambition but just to leave with a family. her story through the eyes os an American Kid, who does not understand her much, gives the stroy a distinct flavour.
''Sexy'' is story of a lady having an affair with a married man. But she faces the question of the nature of her relationship with him.
''Real Durwan'' is a different stroy which is not about any NRI but an old poor lady.
there are more stories.Go through each of these stories and you will find your self wanting to read the next. Each story introduces to a new character. These characters are told in a way, which I loved. They dont explain the emotions or thoughts, they just explain the happenings and you have to fill in the rest and its not difficult. You soon feel that you are leaving a part in the stroy and can see and feel everything.
Its a must read. It is among the best collection of stories I have ever read.
