Literary Award Winners Fiction Book Club discussion
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Interpreter of Maladies
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Interpreter of Maladies - Section 1 - through "Interpreter of Maladies"
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Tamara
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rated it 4 stars
Mar 24, 2014 10:12AM
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I read this collection of short stories in January. Unfortunately, I returned the book and do not recall the titles. But, I recall many of the stories. I thought that these stories captured the tension of being "between" so well. The enmotions, the sense of loss and loneliness between the couple in the first story was so raw. I loved the way the child's view of adult concerns illustrated the ties to the "old world" at the same time those ties were being stretched to the breaking point. The candy, with the evocative power of taste and smell, was a perfect image.
I hardly ever read short stories. I tried a few times before and almost always failed in liking them - just not my cup of tea. Most of the time short stories are too direct, too quick in jumping into conclusion, not subtle enough. This book is different, absolutely beautiful. As if it was made of thin delicate threads. Each different, standing alone in its own right, connected however with melancholic atmosphere. Lahiri proves that you can write about the pain of life in a beautiful and subtle manner, far from pompousness and emotional manipulation.
I've read only 4 stories so far, and I absolutely "loved" how she shows the disillusionment of hopes and dreams. "Loved" might not the best word, her stories put me in a melancholic and rather sad mood, but there's something beautiful in it too.
Marriage that is supposed to be the institution of love and togetherness is a place for secrets and resentment - this theme is present in "the temporary matter" as well as in "the interpreter of maladies".
I also find very interesting the concept of miscommunication. In the first story the unexpressed feelings told during the blackouts are the prove of decomposition of the marriage of Shoba and Shukumar, while in Interpreter of Maladies, the miscommunication coming form cultural differences is the driving force that reveals the shallowness of Mrs. Das and destroys the dreams of Mr. Kapasi.
And the language that curves stunning pictures in one's head, like the last scene from the title story.
I also loved the use of stories told during the black outs that could not be told in the normal course of events. Is it that there is safety in the dark, when we do not have to look into another's eyes? Is it that the absence of modern distractions allowed the time and space to listen, something that might have been done in India, but which is loss to a middle class couple in California? In coming to America, they gained much in the way of opportunity and the potential for material success. But, what have they lost in other areas? What makes for happiness? contentment? true wealth?
I went into this book not 100% enthused, but the first story sucked me in big time. Just the whole theme of miscommunication, feeling like a stranger in your own house, growing distant from someone you loved so much and seeing it happen before your eyes, trying to fix things when it's already too late... It was so relatable to me, it really hit home. I think as a whole this book was relatable. I think we have all been in a situation where a lack of communication has caused some sort of problem. That theme running throughout made each of these stories almost predictable to me in a sense, but still really really well written and interesting.
So, I started this today, only managed to read the first story but what a first story it was. Such powerful emotions. I felt like I was invading their privacy during a very difficult time in their lives. It was very moving. I don't usually go in for short stories but this one is really making me rethink the genre. And if the others are like this, I'm looking forward to the rest of this book.
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Irene wrote: "Is it that the absence of modern distractions allowed the time and space to listen, something that might have been done in India, but which is loss to a middle class couple in California? In coming to America, they gained much in the way of opportunity and the potential for material success. But, what have they lost in other areas?"I didn't interpret this as an "old world"/"new world" dichotomy--particularly because Shoba remembers the "say something in the dark" exercise from visits to her grandmother's house in India. Rather than read the light as modern and the dark as pre-modern, it spoke to me as an interesting juxtaposition of the typical relationship between light and dark on the one hand, and safety and fear on the other. For Shoba and Shukumar, light cast all their pain and sorrow into sharp relief. They walked on tiptoes, avoided one another, because they feared the recognition of their own pain reflected in the other's face. The darkness, in contrast, created a safe space--one where they could release their secrets, face their sorrows, and accept the reality of what had become of their lives.
Rebecca, You put that very well. Interesting that light is the locus of fear and darkness the locus of safety. That is the opposite of the usual associations. Dark is usually the unknown, the world of all things scarey. Also, if they can not say certain things in the light because they can not face the pain or disappointment reflected in the face of the other, there must be quite a bit of love still there. Yet, they can not translate that love into something that will allow them to stay together.
Irene wrote: "Rebecca, You put that very well. Interesting that light is the locus of fear and darkness the locus of safety. That is the opposite of the usual associations. Dark is usually the unknown, the w..."It's interesting what you've said about the opposite of usual association. I think that in this case safety means being still with only oneself. Darkness created the asylum where Shoba and Shukumar’s pain, sorrow or even rage where still in the boundaries of own self. Without the vision of the other there were little chances for confrontation so much needed in their situation.
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Everyone I have talked to have found the first story in this collection to be the most striking. But, for some reason, the second one was the one that I found more haunting. I am going to have to borrow this book back so I can re-read these stories to see if I can identify why that recollection of that childhood experience grabbed me.
What an insightful look into another world.
I have read a few stories out of this collection. I'm really looking forward to reading the whole story collection, in its entirety, arranged the way Lahiri designed. It's like an album you've only heard random songs off of, but then you get to sit down and listen to the whole thing.
I just wanted to comment on how Lahiri creates such precise points of view. In "Interpreter of Maladies," Mr. Kapasi is not at all attracted to Mrs. Das at first, and we find this out through his descriptions of her (I don't have the book with me right now, but I remember his saying that her blouse was cut like a man, she had fat hands like paws). Then when she expresses an interest in him, she becomes sexual, desirable. And Lahiri never tells us this, never says: "He found himself suddenly attracted to her." We learn it through his changed observations of her. Her paws are now fingers that she paints sensually.Also, just the loneliness of the characters. I wonder if Lahiri is capable of creating a character that is happy. I recently read Lowland, and that book is all about aching, unfulfilled relationships, silence, loss.
I have also read The Namesake and Unaccustomed Earth and would say there is always some sense of loss, of being pulled or caught in some in-between state.
Mod
I go in it interesting that despite her feelings of loneliness towards her husband and the secret about her children, when one was in danger, Mrs. Das melded perfectly into her husband and family, completely ignoring everything around her except her family unit. Prior to the incident she seems completely apathetic to everything happening around her, including the children.
Nicqui wrote: "I go in it interesting that despite her feelings of loneliness towards her husband and the secret about her children, when one was in danger, Mrs. Das melded perfectly into her husband and family..."That's an interesting observation, but I would see it more as a herd behavior, atavistic reaction of a mother when her child is in danger.
