Interpreter of Maladies

by Jhumpa Lahiri

208 pages

English language

Published May 22, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin.

ISBN:: 978-0-618-10136-8

(38 reviews)

Interpreter of Maladies is a book collection of nine short stories by American author of Indian origin Jhumpa Lahiri published in 1999. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award in the year 2000 and has sold over 15 million copies worldwide. It was also chosen as The New Yorker's Best Debut of the Year and is on Oprah Winfrey's Top Ten Book List. The stories are about the lives of Indians and Indian Americans who are caught between their roots and the "New World".

10 editions

Zelanator reviewed Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Review of 'Interpreter of Maladies' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Outstanding.

sidra reviewed Interpreter of maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Review of 'Interpreter of maladies' on 'Storygraph'

5 stars

"He found nothing noble in interpreting people's maladies, [...]"

A beautiful collection of stories. I remember reading the story A Real Durwan way back in 2014 or 2015 for my English Literature class, the story has stuck with me since then. It was a surprise to find it in this Collection. Anyway, you can literally taste India's essence in each of these stories. The characters are so true to their identities, and in each story, they stand out. I wouldn't go beyond describing these stories with the word simple as this is the best and most justified that I can do.

I am amazed and also a bit envious of how naturally Lahiri is able to narrate.

Favourite: When Mr. Pirzada Came To Dine

"He found nothing noble in interpreting people's maladies, [...]"

outofrange reviewed Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Review of 'Interpreter of Maladies' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Stories that are simple on the surface are nonetheless emotionally charged and culturally revealing.

Fionnáin reviewed Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Review of 'Interpreter of Maladies' on 'Import'

4 stars

Excellent collection of short stories that deal with diaspora and cultural disconnect, told through the simplicity of characters' lives. Many wonderful examples, but the opening story ('A Temporary Matter'), 'A Real Durwan', 'Mrs. Sen's' and 'This Blessed House' are all terrific. Brilliant writing, scenarios and pace.

LingLass reviewed Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Review of 'Interpreter of Maladies' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Quietly beautiful. These stories are loaded with finely observed details about the ways that people can be mismatched—as couples, as neighbors, and as residents.

Siddhartha Golu reviewed Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Review of 'Interpreter of Maladies' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

The only "problem" I had with this book was because it was a collection of short stories. Every time I started to like or feel sympathy towards a character, the story ended. It was like giving someone a paroxysm of happiness - and quickly stabbing them in the back! This might be an exaggeration - it probably is - but therein lies the brilliance of Jhumpa Lahiri. She intertwines the chaos and serenity so beautifully that you can't help but fall in love with every aspect of life - although more often than not, her stories have a low-key and slightly underwhelming end.

The stories typically consist of Non-resident Indians struggling to come to terms with living in a foreign land. Characters are relatable and Lahiri masterfully uses a mixture of cliches and contrasts to prove her point.

I'd definitely recommend this one!