I mentioned that one of my favorite stories in The Best Nonrequired Reading of 2005 was a short story by Jhumpa Lahiri. Recently I read her first collection of short stories, Interpreter of Maladies, which incidentally also won the Pulitzer Prize in 2000. It is an impressive collection of stories told from various points of view women, men, (East) Indians, Americans, and children-in a variety of locations exiled Indians in America, second generation Indians in India and so on. But Lahore is able to transcend stereotypes and write stories about love, loss, tragedy, and a whole host of other emotions and situations that are know to humanity as a whole. She is excellent at creating characters that seem true to life, as well as situations that reveal the complexities of the human condition. I particularly liked her stories about relationships: “When Mr. Pirzada Came To Dine”, “Sexy”, and “This Blessed House.” I am looking forward to reading her novel The Namesake in the future as well. She is a gifted storyteller and has a keen eye for observation.
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