"Unaccustomed Earth"

Did I mention I am in a book club? This is my second one. Well, third if you count the online one that was but wasn't. Anyway, I love to read. The book that was selected for this month was "Unaccustomed Earth" by Jhumpa Lahiri. I have previously read "The Namesake" and "Interpreter of Maladies" by this same author. I am eagerly awaiting her next book. The style of this collection of eight short stories is captivating. I continued to want to know what was going on with the characters after the stories were over. I felt that the author could have taken any one of her stories and made them into an entire book. The stories are connected because they all follow a theme of family, love, and choices. The reader can see how each character is pulled by what they want and what is expected of them from their culture. The push/pull of following your heart and following your destiny is something I related to. My favorite of the eight stories was the first---the title of the book. The stories are broken down into two parts. The second part contains three stories told from the girl and the boy perspectives of the main characters. I recommend reading this book as well as Lahiri's other two books. Lahiri describes her characters and their emotions with such clarity, it seems as though you have met them and you are reading about them in her diary. She is very in tune with the voice of her characters, which creates a bond between the reader and the characters. Lahiri is a Pulitzer prize winner and a national best seller which makes her work both enjoyable and thought provoking.

Comments

Unknown said…
Hi Larissa. I'm so happy you're blogging! Just wanted you to know I'm reading your posts.
Luv, Claire (catskittyns)
July 15, 2009 at 7:36 AM

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pali Notches: Cloudy, Muddy, Windy, and Scary

Image
Last week I added a "notch" in my hiking/climbing belt...Pali Notches.  Here's my disclaimer: I'm not responsible for your decision to do this hike.  If you are afraid of heights, not comfortable climbing, unprepared for changing weather conditions...don't do it!  When in doubt, don't go out applies for this hike.  That being said...last week I did the scariest hike I've ever done...and I survived! If you have followed my blog for awhile, you will know that the past year my blog has been regularly dedicated to my weekly hiking adventures.  A new hike, a new post.  But, before my hiking obsession, there was a cupcake baking obsession.  A new recipe, a new post.  Clearly I'm passionate about specific things and like to share it on my blog, lucky you.  During the cupcake phase, my sporty behavior pretty much consisted of couch surfing.  So, to be hiking an average of four times a week and eating zero cupcakes...well, I've come a long way.
Read more

Mililani Exploration: Kipapa Stream Trail

Image
Learn something new everyday. Today, I learned there is a lovely neighborhood park in walking distance from my house...and a fabulous hiking trail just behind that!  Today we were finally able to go on a hike---without driving (well, sort of...more on that later). We simply geared up, walked out of our house and to a trail we'd never explored before. Adventure Saturday! Today's hike was 2.2 miles (one way) on a partially old paved road, winding around the back woods of Mililani, down to Kipapa Stream, back up to...Costco in Waipio. Say what? We truly had not planned on arriving on the oustskirts of a farm that is directly across from our local Costco. Hiking truly lands you in the most unexpected places.   Along our route we encountered dirt bikers, a small band of pre-teen scooter riders, a couple of farm hands in a truck, a very intimidating junkyard dog, zero other hikers, and a friendly Starbucks Barista.  That's right, after our Saturday surprise hiking adventure, we f
Read more

Turtle Bay "LOST" Trail

Image
Lost in Paradise is how I would describe yesterday's beach/forest trail that led us past crabs climbing on rocks, mongoose dashing across the trail, horses around the stables, a lone Pillbox, and finally to an iconic Banyan Tree famous for recurring roles in the television series "Lost" and an appearance in "Pirates of the Caribbean". My mother-in-law was on island visiting for a week, so Marina, Sarah, and I took her on a hiking adventure...followed up by a thirst quenching Bacon Basil Bloody Mary.  I have previously explored trails with my mother-in-law.  We have trekked through mud and mosquitos at Manoa Falls, walked up a windy Makapu'u, huffed up Hau'ula Loop, strolled the North Shore's Waimea Falls and Kahuku Point.  So, this visit was no different.  We found ourselves hiking pals again for two separate trails this trip, the Turtle Bay "LOST" Trail being the best of the two. This trail begins in the far corner of the Turt
Read more