As the world becomes more interconnected, the search for authors reflecting a modern take becomes more desired. Near the top of the list has to be Indian-American author Jhumpa Lahiri whose career is dedicated to reflecting the experience of calling two very different places as home. In her award winning anthology "Interpreter of Maladies," she takes several perspectives that connect to the theme of being alive and longing for a sense of wholeness. While not every story takes place in a similar location or deals with uniform ideas, they all help to paint a compassionate view of Indian-American life as it relates to searching for balance in one's life. Whether it's a break-up that takes place during a blackout or a controversy surrounding a kind old woman who sweeps stairs, Lahiri knows how to get the reader invested in deceptively simple visions of everyday life. The results create one of the strongest anthologies and promising debuts for an author who has only continued to define her voice as time has gone on.
On the surface, the significance of these two homelands for Lahiri can be found in what they symbolize. Whereas India is under constant scrutiny with stories like "When Mr. Pirzada Comes to Dine" even discussing war, The United States symbolize opportunity for wealth and prosperity. It makes sense why Lahiri's characters would want to move into a community that offers them a financial security to start families and form a happiness that wouldn't be available at home. Even with this predicament, the concept of two homelands is turned on its head as it becomes clear that no character is totally devoid of greater conflict whether social or personal. Some long to return to India to be more in touch with their roots while others struggle to remain authentic in a community that lacks a recognizable Indian population. How could they practice their beliefs when there's nobody there to share them with?
With tender prose, Lahiri delves into the many differences not only between the two homelands, but the differing perspectives within that connectivity. At points there is tragedy in having the only Indian colleague be a philanderer. At other points a trip to the mall to prepare for a date can result in a loss of identity by cosmetics. Efforts to remain true to oneself fuel a lot of the stories and each provide an exploration that is different enough to avoid repetition. Even the fact that the titular story finds a family falling apart on a trip to India reflects how small truths are only recognized from outside perspectives. Every character comes with the flaws of being a human. Worst yet, some are borderline sympathetic even as they present their ugly sides. There is desperation, but there's also hope that the sacrifices will be worth some greater cause.
One doesn't need to be educated in the Indian-American background to fully appreciate "Interpreter of Maladies." While it likely will help to better understand certain subtext around historical and religious themes in the story, the characters are written so clearly that the casualness makes it easy to enter any story. As the anthology ends with a tender moment of self-reflection of a student arriving in America on the day an astronaut lands on the moon, there are even more ways that Lahiri is interested in humanity. If she could make it to America, maybe she can make it to space and beyond. There may be heartbreak and discomfort in certain portions, but there's also hope and humor. The final story features one of the most endearing relationships in the story, and it's mostly her brief encounters with a woman in the lobby of her hotel. By reflecting the connectivity she makes with America on that banal of a level, she creates a greater sense of what America means to her without losing a sense of who she is.
With later works like "The Namesake" cementing her as one of the great authors of the 21st century, it's easy to see why Lahiri continues to resonate. In efforts to move away from western depictions, she ignores stereotypes and finds the ways that humanity is in some ways universal. While these stories feel specific to her, they still manage to convey a lot of struggles not dissimilar from anyone who has had difficult relationships or lives far from home. The results paint a journey of self-discovery that is ultimately rewarding and never boring. It's a collection for the ages, and one that's bound to stick with the reader long after they finish.
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