Unaccustomed Earth- Jhumpa Lahiri

Author: Jhumpa Lahiri
Publisher: Random House India
Price : INR 295
ISBN: 978 81 8400 060 3

Synopsis(As given at the back of the book) :

Everyone has their secrets.  In her new collection of stories, Jhumpa Lahiri gently lifts the veil to reveal how even the most ordinary lives have their dramas and tragedies and then, as gently, lets it fall back down again.

Unaccustomed earth returns to the terrain- the heart of family life and the immigrant experience-that Jhumpa Lahiri has made utterly hers but her themes this time around have darkened and deepened. Poised, nuanced and deeply moving, here is a superb collection.

AaishanniA :

I did not think twice while picking up this book as Jhumpa Lahiri has carved quite the niche for herself in book lovers minds. After reading The Namesake, I was keen for more. Unaccustomed Earth is a collection of short stories, snippets out of various peoples lives with the only thing common to them all is that they are Bengalis that live in America. There are two parts to this book. Part one is 5 short stories. Part two is a trio of three stories about Hema and Kaushik and their lives.

All the stories indicate the fact the although America is still the place Indians think of as a place of security, it has its cons. No matter where one lives, the idea of unhappiness, loneliness and pain does exist.This book shows  more depth and disturbance in the character's lives than any other of  Jhumpa Lahiri's books and thats what binds the stories together.

Each of the stories sends a message in an unique and subtle manner. "Unaccustomed Earth" talks about  remembrance and relationships. "Only Goodness" talks about the importance of one minute. How one wrong decision can destruct a life and the trust between people. "A Choice of Accommodation" talks about the relationship between mixed marriages and and the shift of power from the male of the house to his wife."Heaven- Hell" talks about how although people are living in America, they still have a sort of prejudice towards mixed marriage. "Nobodys Business" talks about how naive women can be, and also sometimes how much ever you hope for change, it doesn't occur. Part two of the Book is about Hema and Kaushik which is a love story with endless amounts of complications and quite a melancholic though soothing end.

The best part about these stories are that they have a slightly abrupt and thought provoking ending so the reader is able to draw his own conclusions.Jhumpa Lahiri has a beautiful style of writing, she allows the stories to talk for themselves. There are many points in the stories where one would be caught off guard with the sudden twist in emotion and thought. According to me, this is her best book yet, even better than. A must read.

Rating : 4/5