More Books…

Here are a few words about a couple of books I read in the past several weeks:

Interpreter of Maladies: Jhumpa Lahiri

This a collection of 9 short stories. If there is one connecting emotion between all the stories, then it is nostalgia. Most stories are about Indian Americans who are caught between their native culture that is their own, and the new world they live in. These stories reminded me of the quaint short stores book I studied for my ICSE. All stories have an emotional appeal, and I never thought I would like stories such as these where there is no conceivable end to most, but the quality of story-telling is of the highest order. And oh boy, the descriptions of food in the stories are so good that you are moved to the point of hunger.

Animal Farm: George Orwell

Another one of those overhyped acclaimed literary classics.Was ranked 31 in the TIME magazine's list of 100 best novels since 1923. Was okay.......one time read maybe for the sake of it.......or maybe I was not able to truly appreciate the depth of satire in the book. Said to resemble the Russian revolution and thereafter the rise of Stalin......this book is based on how the animals in a farm overthrow their owner and take over the farm.

The Namesake: Jhumpa Lahiri

I was really put of by Indian authors till I came across Lahiri. I really love the style of her writing. This is her first complete novel which is based on the life of an Indian born and brought up in the US. The story is based on events in Calcutta, Boston and New York, revolving around the lives of people caught between two different cultures.

Even though there is no proper ending to the story (which is somewhat a characteristic of most of her work till now), the book is an entertaining read till the very last page. Her narrative style is pure brilliance, and once again, her knowledge of the culinary arts is astounding. The descriptions of food are so amazing that I do not recommend you to read this on an empty stomach :)

All in all, a good work of fiction. Recommended reading, if only for the sake of a stellar demonstration of creative writing.