Interpreter of maladies by Jumpa Lahiri

Book Summary

• A Temporary Matter
  Shoba and Shukumar, a married couple living near Boston, grapple with the stillbirth of their child. During scheduled power outages, they take turns confessing secrets to each other, leading to a temporary reconnection that ultimately reveals the depth of their emotional distance.

• When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine
  Ten-year-old Lilia befriends Mr. Pirzada, a visiting scholar from Dhaka. As the India-Pakistan war looms, Lilia becomes aware of the political and personal tensions affecting Mr. Pirzada, highlighting themes of cultural identity and the impact of global events on individual lives.

• Interpreter of Maladies
  Mr. Kapasi, a tour guide and part-time interpreter for a doctor, accompanies the Das family on a trip to the Sun Temple. During the journey, Mrs. Das confesses to him that her son Bobby is the result of an affair, seeking his understanding. This revelation leads Mr. Kapasi to confront his own feelings of inadequacy and the complexities of human connection.

• A Real Durwan
  Boori Ma, an elderly woman serving as the caretaker of a Calcutta apartment building, tells exaggerated stories of her past. When a theft occurs, she is blamed and cast out, revealing the fragility of her position and the judgments of the community.

• Sexy
  Miranda, a young woman in Boston, has an affair with Dev, a married man. Through her interactions with Dev's wife and their son, she gains insight into the complexities of relationships and the consequences of infidelity.

• Mrs. Sen's
  Eliot, an 11-year-old boy, is cared for by Mrs. Sen, an Indian woman who struggles with her new life in America. Her attempts to maintain her cultural practices, such as preparing traditional meals, highlight the challenges of assimilation and the longing for one's homeland.

• This Blessed House
  Newlyweds Sanjeev and Twinkle discover numerous Christian artifacts in their new home, leading to tensions between their cultural identities and the expectations of their marriage.

• The Treatment of Bibi Haldar
  Bibi Haldar, a woman in Calcutta suffering from a mysterious illness, is considered a burden by her family. When she becomes pregnant, the community's perception of her changes, raising questions about societal norms and the treatment of women.

• The Third and Final Continent
  An unnamed Bengali man recounts his journey from India to England and then to America, where he marries Mala. Through his experiences with his elderly landlady, Mrs. Croft, he navigates the challenges of immigration and the process of building a new life.

About the Author

• Background: Born in London in 1967 to Bengali Indian immigrant parents, Jhumpa Lahiri grew up in the United States. Her cross-cultural upbringing deeply influences her writing, which often explores themes of identity, displacement, and the immigrant experience.

• Education: Lahiri studied English literature at Barnard College and earned an MFA in creative writing from Boston University.

• Career: She burst onto the literary scene with Interpreter of Maladies (1999), which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2000. Her debut was acclaimed for its sensitive portrayal of Indian and Indian-American lives.

• Other Works: Lahiri has written several novels, including The Namesake, The Lowland, and Whereabouts. She has also published essays and poetry, and has recently embraced writing in Italian.