An unconventional name, critical acclaim and an Indian author- the blend seemed appropriate enough for me to try out. Jhumpa Lahiri’s ’’Interpreter of Maladies’’ sure exhibits her skill of getting into the skin of her characters, which in turn gives us a fine reading experience.

The book is a collection of some short stories, all of which have a similar underlying factor. They are mostly based in foreign countries yet have a built in Indian feel. One of the best stories of the lot is ’’A temporary matter.’’ It deals with a case study of a couple settled abroad and looks into the differences emerging between them. The husband is a defeated student who doesn’t feel too much vigour or ambition in life. The wife is a dutiful proof reader whose very efficiency seems to nettle her husband. The power cuts for a notified duration form the ’’temporary matter’’. During these phases of darkness, they could restart talking and sharing. Look out for the ending, you will surely feel very familiar with the central characters.

There are some mediocre stories like ’’A Real Durwan’’ and ’’The Treatment of Bibi Haldar’’. The former is about the life of an old lady (a refugee) who claims to have been bathing in wealth at a time. The latter is about a ’’sick’’ girl, uncared for by her family, who feels the need for a husband to look after her. An abrupt end and an awkward plot are the drawbacks of these.

’’Sexy’’ very well explains the pscychology of a young girl trapped in an extra marital affair though very well aware of the fruitless pursuit. The title of the book is after one of the finest stories- Interpreter of Maladies. The plot is fairly simple- the interaction between a young wife who is tired of her life and a tourist guide who was once an ’’interpreter’’ for a doctor. The sheer elegance with which Lahiri puts forward minor details and nuances of her protagonists makes the story impressive.

I personally liked ’’The Blessed House.’’ As the name suggests, this tale is about a couple who buy a new home only to discover that it is a treasury of Christian goodies. While the wife, portrayed very neatly, is jubilated, the same cannot be said for her better half. ’’When Mr Pirzada came to dine’’ is an innocent tale told from the viewpoint of a little girl who regularly saw a guest at home. With sprinkling of wars and festivals thrown in, you wont be bored with this. Same is the case with ’’Mrs Sen’s’’ and ’’The third and final continent.’’ Both are neat and fresh in presentation.

After reading the book I can definitely say that here is an author to look forward to. She manifestly proves that not only is her work meticulous but also interesting. Despite a few average samples, the net result of the book sure is positive. Dont expect a revolution, but if you are in mood for some meaningful and insightful drama, this is surely the one.

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