Unaccostomed Earth ***1/2

By Jhumpa Lahiri.
A Borzai Book Published in 2008  by Alfred A. Knopf.
333 pages.

I'm trying to keep these entries short, but something tells me that this one will be difficult to keep short.  First of all, this is Lahiri's second book of short stories.  A comparison to her first book would be vital to the discussion, though it's been a while since I read that book. Second of all, I'll probably have to delve into detail on a couple of the stories.  So I'll be looking at deatils of the stories and overall impressions, themes and trends.

Her first book of short stories, The Interpreter of Maladies,  was also her first book and a Pulitzer prize winner.  It's truly a fabulous book and one of my all time favorites.  So how does this second newer one rate?

It's a very fine book.  She continues writing with much emotional detail.  She paints her characters with fine detailed strokes.  The characters are likable and the reader feels empathy.  Really, it's a close call of which book I like better, but perhaps Interpreter of Maladies is the better of the two books - slightly.  It's been a while since I read that book, but the feeling that remains in me about that book is that it was more dynamic, adventurous (in her style of writing - not thin the narratives) and fresh.  The stories are shorter so events have to happen quickly.  Being Lahiri's debut book, like many authors' debuts, narratives tend to be punchier and quirkier.  Not that Interpreters is a quirky book, just perhaps a little more than this one here - Unaccustomed Earth.

On the other hand, this newer book seems more mature and nuanced,  (though even her first book had characters that were nuanced - she's a great writer when it comes to character).

In Interpreters, her stories were set in The United States, Britain (if memory serves me right) and her native land of India.  It showed an author (or to extrapolate) or a people who struggle with self-identity.  Especially the stories that took place in The West.

In the newer book, all the stories take place in the U.S.  None take place in India except for perhaps references to trips back to the homeland.  Again, the author is dealing with issues of self-identification.  But I also think she has more interest in interracial relationships.  Almost all the stories touch on this subject.  Even in the stories that have Indian to Indian relationships, there are past experiences of the characters of dating/marrying non-Indians. 

So what can I conclude is her opinion of these relationships?  In the first book, I remember at least one story where it was an Indian to Indian relationship.  That was a troubled relation.  Who gets the blame for the failure of these mixed marriages.  Well, she certainly doesn't throw the blame at the westerners.  Most of the fault lays with the Indians,.  Why?  maybe, like many cultures that are trying to adapt to new ways, they are struggling with their identities.  They're not sure how to go about things and are confused.  They are not sure of which is the best way to act and behave.  The blame might lay at the feet of the Indian-American (or is it Bengali - Americans), but the author certainly has empathy and understanding of what these characters are going through and might even hint at what the issues are for these confused characters.

Perhaps that's a good way to discuss the stories individually.  By using the theme of inter-racial relationships as a string that holds the stories together,I will discuss each story.

Unaccustomed Earth is the first story as well as the title story and the longest story.  It focuses on an Indian wife and her visiting widowed father.  She is married to an "American" guy and he is shown in a pretty good light except for maybe that he's not around a lot because of business, and doesn't always understand his wife's concerns.  But this story is one of the few that is less concerned with the marriage and more concerned with the father and daughter and even the grandson.

Hell-Heaven is the story of a Bengali man that became very close to a Bengali family.  When he eventually dates and marries a white woman, the family, especially the mother, who became very close and had a crush on him was very upset.  Everyone said how the relationship was wrong and that she would treat him badly.  Well the reverse happened.  The marriage ended but because of the husband's philandering ways.

A Choice of Accommodations is a story about a married couple, White wife and Bengali man who go away to a wedding in hopes of rekindling some of the old romance.  Things don't turn out the way they had hoped, but there is a sweet ending.  I liked this story a lot because both characters were shown to have flaws, yet it was hopeful at the end.  It's difficult to lay the blame at any one's feet.

Only Goodness is a story of a sister who tries to help her brother who eventually becomes an alcoholic.  She eventually marries a rich English guy and starts a family with him.  When her brother comes back in the picture, it strains the relationship.  The man seems  a bit cold to her, but he's also correct about her brother and his problems, which the rest of his family has trouble accepting. So this is about a teenage boy trying to adapt to American ways and the blinders the parent wore in respect to him until it was too late.

Nobody's Business is one of the few stories where the main couple is Bengali, but the point of view is that of the American room mate.  The girl in the relationship lives with two Americans, but she has a boyfriend.  She's very beautiful and the guy roommate has a little crush on her but is respectful and never acts on it.  The relationship between the couple is poor.  They Bengali guy is not a nice person, and his Bengali girlfriend seems to have blinders on (just like the family in the above story). 

The second half of the book is actually 3 short stories that are linked together by two characters who meet when they are adolescents.  It is called Hema and Kaushik.  The stories track their lives, and there are relationships with Americans for both characters.  n the last story they do hook up, but things don't seem to work out even though the initial part of the relationship is great.

I have enjoyed immensely every book that Lahiri has written and she will continue to be one of my favorite authors.  I guess I like it so much because of the way she treats her characters.  I really emphasize with them and what they go through in their relationships and marriages.  In some ways, I see my self in these characters because I had an interracial marriage and I could understand what the characters are going through.

Here's a reading and discussion of the book.