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Unaccustomed Earth |
Author: Jhumpa Lahiri
Published: 2008-04-01 |
List price: $25.00
Our price: $15.00
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As of: January 06th, 2009 03:13:06 AM
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Customer comments on this selection.
 Good Book with Desis and ABCD's emotions
This book has multiple stories and each deals with different stages of Desi's life interwined with their American Born Confused Desis(ABCD) or American lived Confused Desis (ALCD) life.
The story "Unaccustomed Earth" deals with the life of an Old Indian man who is settled in America and tries to be live a single independant American life where as his ABCD daughter wants him to be with her as a typical indian culture.
Then the most notable story deals with the rude awakening of the fact that even ABCD's can become drunkards, throw their life over alcohol.
"Kaushik and Me" is a great stroy told from the narrator's point of view regarding the adjustment of life of 2 teenagers who cross each other's life for a brief moment and meet later only to have their heart broken.
The book through stories discusses how Desi's try to assimilate and lose their values( drugs, alcohol and Sex).
Overall a rude awakening to the desis of America.
 Excellent Book
I don't read much fiction. I made an exception to my usual reading fare after watching The Namesake movie a really long time ago. I actually intended to pick up The Namesake, but seeing it was sold out settled on Unaccustomed Earth.
Jhumpa Lahiri can do things with words that I can only dream about. Fiction and non-fiction, I thought this was the best book I read in 2008.
I thought I would dislike short stories. Many times they give too few details and the stories become easily forgotten. These short stories did not disappoint and will certainly not be easily forgotten.
 So rich: like a collection of mini novels
I am not usually a reader of short stories, but this book defied many of my prejudices. I loved it. Jhumpa Lahiri's writing is beautiful. With just a few paragraphs, she can immerse you in a story so that you end up feeling as satisfied as if you've read an entire novel. She also has a wonderful eye for detail and a way of describing everyday events or objects so you feel that you've never really thought about them in that way before.
There are eight stories in this book. The final three feature the same characters but the others stand alone. However they are all quite similar in that they feature highly educated Bengali Indians living in the US and often in mixed race relationships. There are also similar themes that repeat: learning to move on after losing a loved one or the relationships between parents and their adult children.
While I enjoyed all of the stories in this book, I was particularly moved by the first (Unaccustomed Earth) and the last (Going Ashore). They are the two in which I felt the most involved and really cared about the characters. I felt somewhat detached from the others (hence the 4 star rating). However I still enjoyed them and I recommend this book without hesitation - do not let the fact that it's short stories put you off!
Good sneak peak at a Indian culture
It was kind of annoying to read different stories after getting into the character of the each story. Also didnt know that Indians were alcoholics. There is alot of good imagery. And second part is more interesting.
Beautifully crafted
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.
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