'Interpreter of Maladies'

Jhumpa Lahiri has written many profound books. Some of them are 'Interpreter of Maladies', 'The Namesake'

The book 'Interpreter of Maladies' won the Pulitzer Prize in 2000. She has also received PEN/Hemingway Award for this book. She was presented a 2014 National Humanities Medal by U.S. Pres. Barack Obama in 2015

I'm not sure why I haven't written about 'Interpreter of Maladies' before. This is one of the books I thoroughly enjoyed. Any immigrant, especially Indian immigrants, will relate to it.

I first read it in 2010, right when I was on the verge of starting my immigrant life in the USA. I borrowed it from the university library where I worked, but few years back, I bought my own copy because I identified with it so deeply. 

Interpreter of Maladies stays with readers emotionally, as it navigates cultural differences, displacement, longing, relation issues and daily life struggles. 

There are nine stories in the book. Each one leaves an impact, some more than others. 

Let me briefly talk about them.

"A Temporary Matter" is about a young married couple navigating the aftermath of a miscarriage. It's heartbreaking to see how quietly relationships unravel after emotional tolls.

"When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine" is about a Bangladeshi professor visiting the USA during the 1971 war. It shows his emotional turmoil as he worries about his family back home, stuck in a war-torn country.

"Interpreter of Maladies" follows Mr. Kapasi, a tour guide and part-time medical interpreter. An American-born Indian tourist, Mrs. Das, confides in him about her infidelity and guilt. The story explores miscommunication, guilt and it's emotional toll.

"A Real Durwan" tells the story of Boori Ma, a poor old woman, who guards the entrance of a building. 

"Sexy" is about Miranda, a young American woman who has an affair with a married Indian man. 

"Mrs. Sen's" is about an immigrant, childless woman who babysits an American boy. She lives in loneliness and constantly pines for her homeland. 

"This Blessed House" revolves around newlyweds Sanjeev and Twinkle. Their differing attitudes caused cracks in their marriage.

"The Treatment of Bibi Haldar" is about a spinster who suffers from mysterious seizures. After she gets pregnant, her condition vanishes. Perhaps, she was simply longing for emotional warmth and connection.

"The Third and Final Continent" shows the life of an Indian immigrant adjusting to life in the USA while taking care of an elderly American woman. 

Let me share which stories appealed to me the most.

I related deeply to "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine". He had come to the USA to study plants. I spent my early years in the USA learning about flora and fauna, so I connected with him in a quiet, personal way.

"Interpreter of Maladies" shows how people whose lives seem sorted on the surface are often hiding big messes underneath. The way Mrs. Das is hiding her infidelity in her marriage is heavy. Also, where the interaction between Mrs. Das and Mr. Kapasi happens that's my state in homeland India.

"Mrs. Sen's" life seems sad. You're an immigrant, so there's no support system. Your spouse is workaholic professor. You have no kids as well. Life must be very lonely. I empathized with her grief, as I struggled with infertility for years.

It's interesting that Jhumpa Lahiri drew the plots and characters of the book from the observations of the lives and stories of her parents.

Have you read this book? If not, read it. These stories are written in simple, engaging style. They aren't just about immigrants, but it's about human vulnerabilities and the multitudes of emotions we feel.

This book will leave you with empathy for humans.