Ryan ChartrandFrom Jhumpa Lahiri comes another book of short stories, “An Unaccustomed Earth.” Similar to her first published collection of stories, “Interpreter of Maladies,” for which she won the Pulitzer Prize in Literature, Lahiri’s newest release focuses largely on the struggle and plight of Indian Americans learning to assimilate into life in America, mostly in New England.
This book differs in its clear focus on second generation Americans, who learn to thrive in the middle of the opposing pressures of the robust society that surrounds their parents’ homes, more often than not bastions of Old World tradition. In this way, “An Unaccustomed Earth” is similar to Lahiri’s more recent novel “The Namesake,” released in 2004, which also revolves around a second-generation protagonist. Indeed, all of Lahiri’s books have taken on the same themes of immigration and assimilation. (This makes sense, considering that she, too, is an immigrant, who came to the United States in her early adolescence.)
However, instead of feeling redundant, the volume presents itself, not as a repeat of things Lahiri has already written, but instead as a continuation of her prior work, an additional piece of her overall vision. In the eight lengthy stories she includes in this book (divided into two parts), Lahiri not only works through her protagonists to show the plight of Indian Americans, but transforms their situations from isolated incidents to ideas that are able to speak and appeal to a much broader audience.
While most focus on the loneliness that comes with existing between two worlds, each story is able to capture the sorrow of more universal problems. Lahiri has set out, not to create something vastly different than what she has done before, but to continue to describe and speak through a distinct demographic of American society. Instead of looking for a different theme in these stories, then, the reader should notice the variations that set each apart.
Within each story are the diverse plot lines, arresting characters, and high-point crises that save the book from being lumped together with her others. Each is unconventionally heartbreaking and individually impressive, due in large part to Lahiri’s amazing talent as a writer. Some of the stories don’t end well, sometimes without any hope whatsoever, showcasing Lahiri’s realist tendencies.
All of the characters are sufficiently developed and complex, with enough backstory and description to gain support from the viewer. Thematically, all of the stories focus on failure/loss in some way; there is Ruma’s grief, Rahul’s alcoholism and Boudi’s secret love. Most of them center on family issues and feature protagonists from various perspectives, sometimes two: a mother, her daughter, a bereaved husband, a guilt-ridden sister, etc. Still, the plots are almost universally surprising, making each story worth the read.
With “An Unaccustomed Earth,” thematic repetition isn’t to be dreaded. Instead, it can be understood as Lahiri’s attempts to express what she knows about human nature through a societal dynamic she understands thoroughly. Her affecting description and beautiful narrative make for a unique experience with each story.
Emilie Egger is an English junior and Mustang Daily book columnist.