Feb 24, 2009 06:48 PM
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(Updated Nov 18, 2009 04:37 PM)
"Human nature will not flourish, any more than a potato, if it be planted and replanted, for too long a series of generations, in the same worn-out soil. My children have had other birthplaces, and, so far as their fortunes may be within my control, shall strike their roots into unaccustomed earth." — Nathaniel Hawthorne.
What a striking quote to start a great book with! 'Unaccustomed earth' by Jhumpa Lahiri takes its name from this quote by the great Nathaniel Hawthorne. As you proceed in the book story after story, however, you would realise, she is not as much accepting (or explaining) this brilliant quote by Hawthrone; rather experimenting with it, questioning it with her typical subtle writing style.
The answers we seek in life are hardly simple. But we never stop looking for them anyway. (Thats what I love most about her writing, she is just experimenting with the characters and the story, so outside her writing. She is leading the characters by some invisible hand; though in many ways you will think its her story (we don't really know what we don't know).
She is so elegantly being a spectator to the stories unfolding slowly, just watching it from a distance.) So setting your foot in the unaccustomed earth not necessarily flourishes you more, but you will never know unless you try it. Its all an experience, a chance, a new step we must take in life in order to allow ourselves the scope of a little more knowledge.
In a way, reading the unaccustomed earth was like a brilliant journey. And I kept wishing the journey to never end. I just hoped she would go on, weaving one story after another - never stopping, never pausing. I had not been one for short stories really.
I always feel I need more words and just when I am in the thick of the characters, alas, the story ends, me still looking for answers! But in this case, it was simple magic. I will not talk about the book being gripping and all that, of course it was, but it was much more.
It's about these inexplicably simple yet otherwise complicated days picked out of someone's, anyone's life at random; making sense, touching you somewhere deep within. Why does one like a story? There can be many answers, but to me the most easy one being - Its in some way my story - my love, my loss, my dreams and my life.
(Its amazing how alike we all feel about so many things in the same way; when it comes to all the basic emotions, mostly love and loss, we are so the same!) Call me an ego centric, but that's how I feel. And I really marvel the way she holds on to her audiences. Her popularity shows she is read and admired for her books allover the world and I know I am not the only one so eagerly waiting for another book from her.
So much for everything else, but the stories themselves! To begin with as far as this collection of short stories is concerned, I am sure quality makes up for quantity. In the average 30 40 paged short stories, its not difficult to find short novels.
They just have so much in them, every word is justified and every sentence holds so much meaning, fitting right into the narration. And the stories go so deep, even when you are finished with them, they stay with you, the characters, the places, the emotions - sad, disturbing, poignant, so multi layered.
The stories are simple days out of anyone's life, but the complicated emotions and the way she unravels the secrets is just so beautifully human. Let me not go into details of the stories, you will love discovering the stories on your own, trust me.
Just for an idea the first part is a random collection of stories and the second part (my favorite) is a beautifully crafted, very real, so sad a love story it breaks your heart. The simple earthiness of the characters, the frailties and faults that are so much a part of us and the beautiful, immediate and passionate romance. Wow. If I still have not said enough (I am sure I have not!) its a must read for all those who have lost sleep over love, relationships and life in general..
