I'm tired of feeling so terrible all the time. Eight years, Mr. Kapasi, I've been in pain eight years. I was hoping you could help me feel better; say the right thing. Suggest some kind of remedy.

 

 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (1 of 15), Read 38
      times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Sherry Keller shkell@starband.net 
 Date: 
      Wednesday, May 15, 2002 07:36 AM 


On the cover: "Jhumpa Lahiri is the kind of writer who
makes you want to grab the next person you see and
say, 'Read this!'" Amy Tan. This is exactly the feeling I had
when I had finished this book. My two favorite stories
were "This Blessed House" and "The Third and Final
Continent." But I liked them all. It's hard to talk about a
whole book of short stories at once, but I'll start off by
saying that the writing is so clear and subtle that it's
deceptive. Many of the stories have an underlying
sadness that is not in the words, but in the spaces
somehow. I had the same feeling when I read Remains of
the Day. I'm not comparing styles here, although I would
describe both writers with similar words. 

So, have you all read this yet? How do you want to
proceed with the discussion? One story at a time? If we
do it that way, I'll probably have to reread stories, since I
shouldn't have read this as early in the month as I did,
but that wouldn't be a bad thing at all.

Sherry

 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (2 of 15), Read 37
      times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Dottie Randall 
 Date: 
      Wednesday, May 15, 2002 11:30 AM 


Sherry -- 

I just found this at the American Book Center bookstore
on Friday and finished it up Sunday morning. I had tried to
get it while home but didn't get to a decent bookstore and
so had returned without it and figured I'd skip this one --
fortunately I didn't have to miss this wonderful slender
volume of stories which as you so aptly put it are filled
with sadness in the spaces. I think your top two are also
mine -- I really, really fell for Third and Final Continent. Am
looking forward to discussing these no matter what the
procedure.

Dottie

 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (3 of 15), Read 35
      times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Dale Short dshort@bham.rr.com 
 Date: 
      Wednesday, May 15, 2002 12:15 PM 


Sherry & Dottie: The two stories you guys mention were
favorites of mine, as well. I was also very fond of "When
Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine."

As you say, much between the lines in all of these.
Deceptively straightforward. And wonderful bits of scene
and image as well. It cracks me up to remember "The
Third and Final Continent"...

"A flag on the moon! Say, 'splendid!'"

And the image, in "This Blessed House," of all the guests
disappearing up the ladder into the attic and only his
wife's shoes, "with heels like golf tees," remaining behind.
What a neat examination of an "odd couple"...quiet,
reserved, worrier husband and outgoing, impulsive wife.
What else could she have been named but Twinkle?

One thing I found surprising is that, while I thought all the
stories in the volume were strong ones, I didn't like the
two New Yorker pieces (including the title story, which
won both the O'Henry and Best American) nearly as much
as some of the others. They struck me as
more...conventional? Traditional? In any event, less
energy and capacity for surprise as "This Blessed House"
and others. 

Anyway, this is an author I'm very glad to discover. My
compliments to whoever nominated this one.



>>Dale in Ala.

 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (4 of 15), Read 34
      times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      R Bavetta rbavetta@prodigy.net 
 Date: 
      Wednesday, May 15, 2002 12:28 PM 


Really nice little book. And what a great note it ended on. 

But I can see I'll have to get it out here in my office if I'm
to remember which story is which. 

Back later.

Ruth 

 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (5 of 15), Read 37
      times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Steve Warbasse swarbasse@iowabar.org 
 Date: 
      Wednesday, May 15, 2002 12:34 PM 


I'm still reading having finished over half the stories. So
I'm in, but I don't have any bright ideas about how to
proceed. Start with the first one, I guess.

The one that's sticking in my mind is the last one I
read--"Sexy." There is an interesting flat affect to this riff
on an old theme. Playing off Miranda's own quiet affair
against the melodrama she hears about from the next
cubicle at work was very effective.

More about it later when we get there.

Steve

 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpretor of Maladies (6 of 15), Read 27 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Nancy Hudson nhallo@netscope.net 
 Date: 
      Wednesday, May 15, 2002 05:56 PM 


I have also forgotten many of the salient facts of each
story. I read
them so quickly because they were so good adn so I
finished a while
back. I would prefer discussing each story and then I can
re-read them
as we go. 

Nancy
Current Reads--The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan

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charset="Windows-1252"
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I =have also 
forgotten many of the salient facts of each
story. I read them so =quickly 
because they were so good adn so I
finished a while back. I would =prefer 
discussing each story and then I can
re-read them as we 
go. 

 

Nancy

Current Reads--The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy 
Tan


------=_NextPart_001_0013_01C1FC39.C87F35C0--

 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpretor of Maladies (7 of 15), Read 26 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Jane Niemeier jniemeie@hotmail.com 
 Date: 
      Wednesday, May 15, 2002 09:55 PM 


Since I have not been able to visit Constant Reader as
often I would like this year, I have to chime in now and
say that my favorite story is "Mrs. Sen's". I hope that I am
here when you start discussing it.

There are some very sad stories, as you mentioned,
Sherry. "A Real Durwan" and "The Treatment of Bibi
Haldar" are two that were sad. I guess Bibi turned out
well in the end, but many of the stories seem to be about
outcasts.

Jane

 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpretor of Maladies (8 of 15), Read 27 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Dale Short dshort@bham.rr.com 
 Date: 
      Wednesday, May 15, 2002 10:39 PM 


Jane: Glad you can join us! "Mrs. Sen's" is a powerful
piece of work, isn't it? The contrast between the boy's life
with the babysitter and his life with the lonely mother was
very moving for me, and that final paragraph rings like a
sad, beautiful bell.



>>Dale in Ala.

 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpretor of Maladies (9 of 15), Read 25 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Karen Slongwhite bookworm@greeneland.com 
 Date: 
      Thursday, May 16, 2002 09:17 AM 


There definitely was an edge of sadness to all of these
stories. The sadness comes partially from being on the
edges or outside. I think this is part of the power of the
stories because most people have been on the outside
looking in at least once in there lives.

A lot of the sadness is also related to the dissonance
between the life you consider the norm/ideal and the
reality of the life you are living. I think the immigrant
experience casts this in a harsh light since the norm in
India is so drastically different than life in America, but I
think it is something we all experience. The immigrant
experience also clearly illuminates the excitement of the
new coupled with the sense of loss of the old. This is
another thing I think we all experience and something I
have certainly been thinking about recently in conjunction
with making such a drastic move in my own life.

Several people here mentioned they liked "The Third and
Final Continent." I also loved this story and think it is
interesting that so many of us like this one. It is the story
with the least amount of sadness in it. It is a story of
triumph and growing into a life you love and finding the
place where you fit. Placing it at the end of the book
leaves us with the feeling that all the sadness and anxiety
of these drastic changes might be worth it after all.

Karen

 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpretor of Maladies (10 of 15), Read 23 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Dale Short dshort@bham.rr.com 
 Date: 
      Thursday, May 16, 2002 10:25 AM 


Karen: I found your note very illuminating, particularly as
to how the immigrant experience can be a sort of
template for where we've all been, emotionally, at some
time or other.

I'm reminded of a talk that Flannery O'Connor once
gave...she said that after her first published short stories
started to attract attention, her friends and family asked
her why she didn't try writing about "a better class of
people."

She told them that she was only drawn to write about
characters who "had all their insulation rubbed off,"
whether through poverty or geographical displacement or
both. 

I think Lahiri, too, is drawn to characters with their
insulation rubbed off.

By the way, did you know there's a flag on the moon?

Say, "Splendid!" {G}




>>Dale in Ala.

 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpretor of Maladies (11 of 15), Read 17 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Ann Davey davey@tconl.com 
 Date: 
      Thursday, May 16, 2002 01:07 PM 


As a rule, I'm not a great fan of short stories, but this is
really an exceptional collection. I just finished "Sexy" and
"Mrs. Sens" - in different ways, both haunting explorations
of loneliness. 

Jane, I can see why you liked "Mrs. Sens" so much. My
heart broke for Mrs. Sens, but also for that poor little boy,
who I feel quite certain would much have preferred
staying with Mrs. Sens to going home alone to that
deserted beach front house every day after school. 

The author is an equal opportunity dispenser of
loneliness. The mother has a male acquaintance who
spends the night - once. There seems to be no physical
bond between the husband and Mrs. Sens. They don't
touch even when their picture is taken, but only smile with
their mouths closed. With small details like these, Lahiri
conveys a great deal of information about her characters.

 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpretor of Maladies (12 of 15), Read 16 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      R Bavetta rbavetta@prodigy.net 
 Date: 
      Thursday, May 16, 2002 02:59 PM 


And that knife! There was a whole lot of chopping going
on. (Way more than needed to feed two people,
methinks.) What's the significance of that knife?

Ruth 

 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpretor of Maladies (13 of 15), Read 14 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Dale Short dshort@bham.rr.com 
 Date: 
      Thursday, May 16, 2002 03:28 PM 


Ann writes, Lahiri is an equal opportunity dispenser of
loneliness...

I agree. One reason I admire these stories so much is
that, unlike some other fiction on the theme of immigrants,
there's no agenda here that I can see. There's only what
Faulkner described as "the human heart in conflict with
itself." Good for Lahiri.

Ruth: Whole lotta choppin' going on, indeed. I thought I
had seen a pretty good variety of ethnic food being
prepared, but this magical knife and its apparatus is new
to me. In fact, I came to lust for one.

Maybe that's a clue. Was the knife an outlet for Mrs. Sen's
passion? Was cooking fish another outlet? Was keeping
the boy another? If so, then we're seeing circumstance
take away her outlets, one by one. Could she have
"overcome" it all, or was the deck stacked against her?

The scene where they're asked to leave the bus because
of the fish smell was surprisingly affecting for me. What a
comedown, from just a few weeks before. 



>>Dale in Ala.

 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpretor of Maladies (14 of 15), Read 7 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Ann Davey davey@tconl.com 
 Date: 
      Thursday, May 16, 2002 07:11 PM 


I wondered why she was doing all that chopping on
newspapers in the living room, instead of in the kitchen,
and I had some trouble picturing this magic knife. I figured
it was some kind of Indian implement that I had never
seen.

Dale, I think Mrs. Sen needed the boy even more than he
needed her. Can you imagine the loneliness and horrible
isolation she felt trapped in that apartment all day by
herself?

I think the fish was so significant because of the
connection to home. Fish was the staple of her diet in her
country, and it reminded her of everything she was
missing. It was her husband's choice to live in a foreign
country, not hers, and there didn't seem to be any
benefits for her in living in a foreign country. He was
aiming for tenure, so it wasn't going to be a temporary
situation either.

I don't see much hope for this woman. Getting pregnant
might give her life some focus, but barring that, she
appears headed straight for a complete breakdown -
which might at least get her home.
On the other hand, she did have that very, very sharp
knife. 
Ann


 Topic: 
      Interpretor of Maladies (15 of 15), Read 6 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      R Bavetta rbavetta@prodigy.net 
 Date: 
      Thursday, May 16, 2002 07:13 PM 


I agree, Ann. Not a hopeful story.

And I couldn't picture this knife, either. I'll ask an Indian
friend of mine.

Ruth 

 

 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies (16 of 38), Read 43 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Ann Davey davey@tconl.com 
 Date: 
      Thursday, May 16, 2002 10:50 PM 


There's an interesting interview with Lahiri from
Newsweek International at
http://www.umiacs.umd.edu/users/sawweb/sawnet/books/patel_lahiri.html

She has this to say about Mrs. Sen:
"Mrs Sen is based on my mother who babysat in our
home. I saw her one way but imagined that an American
child may see her differently, reacting with curiosity,
fascination, or fear to the things I took for granted."

My sister had an Indian babysitter for her kids when they
were very young, but unlike Mrs. Sen, this woman was
happy and outgoing. The kids loved her.

Lahiri also made this comment about the significance of
the title and a common thread in her stories:

Interviewer: "Do you see yourself as the interpreter of our
maladies of belonging?"

Lahiri: "It's not a role I contemplated but the title haunted
me for years. The characters I'm drawn to all face some
barrier of communication. I like to write about people who
think in a way they can't fully express. Growing up in two
countries, I see things in a way that not everyone around
me can. I'd talk to my cousins about what life's like in
America and explain, describe, show pictures and still
know that they'll never get it because they haven't been
here. Talking to Americans about India is the same-it's
always partial. As a storyteller, I'm aware that there are
limitations in communication." 

 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies (17 of 38), Read 41 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Sherry Keller shkell@starband.net 
 Date: 
      Friday, May 17, 2002 07:44 AM 


Thanks for that link, Ann. I liked the line: "The ink hasn't
dried yet on our lives here."

Sherry

 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies (18 of 38), Read 40 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Beej Connor connorva@mindspring.com 
 Date: 
      Friday, May 17, 2002 10:51 AM 


I still have one more story to read, and then I'm done.

Dale, I'm with you..I want one of those knives! I think Mrs.
Sens sat on the floor because she probably did that in
India..she was trying very hard to hold on to the
traditions she lived as a child..maybe as a way to feel
closer to her family in India.

She seemed to have put so much importance onto fresh
fish. I doubt it was the fish itself, that mattered, but what
it symbolized for her.


Beej

 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies (19 of 38), Read 42 times, 1 File
      Attachment  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      R Bavetta rbavetta@prodigy.net 
 Date: 
      Friday, May 17, 2002 11:26 AM 


One Indian knife, coming up.

Here's the explanation and picture I received from my
Indian friend, Amulya Malladi, who incidentally has a novel
coming out next month, called A Breath of Fresh Air:

Okay here is how the knife is (I just described it in a book
of mine so I am fresh with ideas of how to put this), it has
a wooden base and a knife is embedded into it. When you
need to use the knife you pull the wooden base against
your feet and you lift the embedded knife from the middle
of the base to stand upright. (Therefore the Viking ship
analogy, it looks a sail while the knife base is the boat).
You can then cut vegetable by holding something with
both hands and sliding it through the knife. 

This is, I believed quite a South Indian knife, I am
surprised Lahiri used it because she is Bengali…I guess
they have the same knives we do.

I am sending a rough diagram to help you. Amulya 



Ruth 


 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies (20 of 38), Read 35 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Steve Warbasse swarbasse@iowabar.org 
 Date: 
      Friday, May 17, 2002 02:46 PM 


Thanks for the research, Ruthie. I very much liked "Mrs.
Sen's," too. However, any attempt by me to use such a
knife in my own kitchen would inevitably have tragic
results.

Steve

 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies (21 of 38), Read 38 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Beej Connor connorva@mindspring.com 
 Date: 
      Friday, May 17, 2002 02:50 PM 


Ruth, now I REALLY want one of those knives! I want to
see my kids' faces when they walk into the kitchen and
see me cutting carrots with my feet.


Beej

 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies (22 of 38), Read 39 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Sherry Keller shkell@starband.net 
 Date: 
      Friday, May 17, 2002 02:53 PM 


That knife seems like a vegetable version of a paper
cutter. What a good idea. I like the idea of cutting carrots
with your feet.

Sherry

 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies (23 of 38), Read 39 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Beej Connor connorva@mindspring.com 
 Date: 
      Friday, May 17, 2002 03:09 PM 


Sherry, I do think it would be beneficial to discuss a story
at a time, beginning with the first. Or at random..doesn't
really matter in what order, as long as we stick to one
story at a time.


Beej

 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies (24 of 38), Read 31 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Ann Davey davey@tconl.com 
 Date: 
      Friday, May 17, 2002 08:20 PM 


Thank your friend for us, Ruth. Now I can understand how
she could cut things on the floor, although I'm still not
sure how the feet are involved.

Ann

 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies (25 of 38), Read 35 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      R Bavetta rbavetta@prodigy.net 
 Date: 
      Friday, May 17, 2002 08:45 PM 


I guess you use the feet to keep the whole shebang from
sliding around. However, I've invited Amulya to join us,
and she tells me she's planning on showing up soon. You
can ask her then.

Ruth 

 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies (26 of 38), Read 31 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Nancy Hudson nhallo@netscope.net 
 Date: 
      Saturday, May 18, 2002 04:37 PM 


I had sent a reply to this post yesterday but never saw it
come across in email and now I see it is not here on the
site either so I will repeat.

I also think we should discuss a story at a time. It will lead
to more discussion and will be more interesting as we can
re-read the story and remember more to comment on. I
would like this. Thanks.

Nancy

On 05/17/2002 3:09:19 PM, Beej Connor wrote:
>Sherry, I do think it would be
>beneficial to discuss a story
>at a time, beginning with the
>first. Or at random..doesn't
>really matter in what order,
>as long as we stick to one
>story at a time.
> 
>Beej



 
 

 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies--A Temporary Matter (27 of 38), Read
      32 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Sherry Keller shkell@starband.net 
 Date: 
      Sunday, May 19, 2002 09:56 AM 


A Temporary Matter

This is one of the sad stories. The title seems ironic, since
Shoba’s and Shukumar’s situation is anything but
temporary. Do you think that the two main characters
have anything in common other than being
Indian-American? They obviously loved each other once,
but their joint tragedy causes them to hide from each
other so deeply that their despair seems inextricable. I
had hopes that the candlelit dinner would bring them
together, and it did, but for surprising, and not happy,
reasons. 

Lahiri’s use of language adds so much to the underlying
feeling of the story. "Shoba took her plate to the living
room and watched game shows, or proofread files with
her arsenal of colored pencils at hand." Now who would
think of using "arsenal" to describe a bunch of colored
pencils? That word slips by, but all the while insinuating
that Shoba uses her work as a defense against feeling, as
a defense against her husband. 





Sherry

 
 

 Topic: 
      A Temporary Matter (28 of 38), Read 40 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Nancy Hudson nhallo@netscope.net 
 Date: 
      Sunday, May 19, 2002 10:06 AM 


This is actually one of my favorite stories in the bunch,
despite it's
sadness. I found myself hoping, too, that the darkness
which allowed
Shuba and Shukumar to communicate once again would
lead to their
eventual healing as a couple. I was quite shocked to see
that it was a
set-up by Shuba to find a way to tell her husband she
was leaving him.
But then, as they say, be careful what you ask for, you
might get it..
Her husband tells her something that she never expected
to hear,
something even more hurtful. My question is this--do you
think they
actually do separate, or do you think that by finally being
able to
discuss the death of their baby, they come together
again? I didn't
think the ending necessarily made that clear. There were
signs of hope
throughout the story. Was Shuba already beyond the
point of changing her
mind?

Nancy
Current Reads--The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan


 
 

 Topic: 
      A Temporary Matter (29 of 38), Read 29 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      R Bavetta rbavetta@prodigy.net 
 Date: 
      Sunday, May 19, 2002 02:18 PM 


I read no hope at all in the ending, beyond the idea that
all experience leads to learning, and they have learned
something by what they've been through.

This was probably my least favorite of the stories. Not
because it was sad, but because I found it rather
ordinary. In the sense that it was like many other stories
I've read about how a tragedy like losing a child can alter
a relationship forever. The other stories in the book I
found more engaging, simply because they took me to
places I hadn't been so many times before.

Ruth 

 
 

 Topic: 
      RE: A Temporary Matter (30 of 38), Read 34 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Nancy Hudson nhallo@netscope.net 
 Date: 
      Sunday, May 19, 2002 02:58 PM 


I also liked the other stories very much, but this one
struck a chord in
me. I know the ideas underlying it are ordinary, but that
was also it's
strength. The title, A Temporary Matter, is one of the
things I find
interesting because it lends itself to interpretation as well.
Besides
the obvious period of time that the electricity is shut off
temporarily,
which gives Shoba a window of opportunity, there is also
the idea that
perhaps this entire period of alienation between Shoba
and Shukumar is a
temporary thing, something that can be overcome with
love and
understanding and communication.
I find it perfectly believable that upon forcing themselves
to talk and
share the things they knew and had kept from each other
that they come
to the realization that their relationship is worth
salvaging. Tragedy
often brings people today, just as it can tear them apart.
My optimistic
attitude is that the alienation they felt, largely on the part
of
Shukumar, is something that was temporary and that they
were able to
heal the wounds. The last sentence, "they wept together,
for the things
they now knew" is for me, at least, an indication that for
once in a
very long time they were able to share something
together and experience
something together and that this could be construed as
the start of a
new life. I can also see how the opposite interpretation
may be just as
valid, though. So, like a good story writer, she leaves it to
the
imagination.

Nancy

Nancy
Current Reads--The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan


-----Original Message-----
From: readReadingList Listmanager
[mailto:listmanager@webboardhost.com] 
Sent: Sunday, May 19, 2002 1:19 PM
To: Recipients of 'readReadingList' suppressed
Subject: A Temporary Matter


From: "R Bavetta" 

I read no hope at all in the ending, beyond the idea that
all experience
leads to learning, and they have learned something by
what they've been
through.

This was probably my least favorite of the stories. Not
because it was
sad, but because I found it rather ordinary. In the sense
that it was
like many other stories I've read about how a tragedy like
losing a
child can alter a relationship forever. The other stories in
the book I
found more engaging, simply because they took me to
places I hadn't been
so many times before.

Ruth


To reply:
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 Topic: 
      A Temporary Matter (31 of 38), Read 32 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Sherry Keller shkell@starband.net 
 Date: 
      Sunday, May 19, 2002 03:03 PM 


I have to say I saw no hope either. Not unless there were
some serious changes in their basic personalities. Nothing
in the story made me think that either of them would be
willing to make those changes. Shoba had been such a
highly productive and controlling person (just look at all
the possibilities she planned for, with her food supplies
and her extra toothbrushes). But this tragedy couldn't be
controlled or planned and all the colored pencils in the
world can't get her out of it. Maybe facing the tragedy and
allowing herself to really experience what she's obviously
been trying to avoid will make a difference. But it's a leap. 

Sherry

 
 

 Topic: 
      A Temporary Matter (33 of 38), Read 33 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Sherry Keller shkell@starband.net 
 Date: 
      Sunday, May 19, 2002 03:12 PM 


Nancy, we were posting simultaneously. You make a good
point with the way the story ended (I only reread the
beginning to reacquaint myself). And the title can be a
useful clue, if you it's seen as not totally ironic. I hope
you're right. Leaving it unresolved does make in a more
interesting story. 

Sherry

 
 

 Topic: 
      FW: A Temporary Matter (32 of 38), Read 34 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Nancy Hudson nhallo@netscope.net 
 Date: 
      Sunday, May 19, 2002 03:04 PM 



I also liked the other stories very much, but this one
struck a chord in
me. I know the ideas underlying it are ordinary, but that
was also it's
strength. The title, A Temporary Matter, is one of the
things I find
interesting because it lends itself to interpretation as well.
Besides
the obvious period of time that the electricity is shut off
temporarily,
which gives Shoba a window of opportunity, there is also
the idea that
perhaps this entire period of alienation between Shoba
and Shukumar is a
temporary thing, something that can be overcome with
love and
understanding and communication. I find it perfectly
believable that
upon forcing themselves to talk and share the things they
knew and had
kept from each other that they come to the realization
that their
relationship is worth salvaging. Tragedy often brings
people today, just
as it can tear them apart. My optimistic attitude is that the
alienation
they felt, largely on the part of Shukumar, is something
that was
temporary and that they were able to heal the wounds.
The last sentence,
"they wept together, for the things they now knew" is for
me, at least,
an indication that for once in a very long time they were
able to share
something together and experience something together
and that this
could be construed as the start of a new life. I can also
see how the
opposite interpretation may be just as valid, though. So,
like a good
story writer, she leaves it to the imagination.

Nancy

Nancy
Current Reads--The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan


-----Original Message-----
From: readReadingList Listmanager
[mailto:listmanager@webboardhost.com] 
Sent: Sunday, May 19, 2002 1:19 PM
To: Recipients of 'readReadingList' suppressed
Subject: A Temporary Matter


From: "R Bavetta" 

I read no hope at all in the ending, beyond the idea that
all experience
leads to learning, and they have learned something by
what they've been
through.

This was probably my least favorite of the stories. Not
because it was
sad, but because I found it rather ordinary. In the sense
that it was
like many other stories I've read about how a tragedy like
losing a
child can alter a relationship forever. The other stories in
the book I
found more engaging, simply because they took me to
places I hadn't been
so many times before.

Ruth


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 Topic: 
      FW: A Temporary Matter (34 of 38), Read 23 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Jane Niemeier jniemeie@hotmail.com 
 Date: 
      Sunday, May 19, 2002 09:41 PM 


This wasn't my favorite story, but I liked it. I thought that
Lahiri did a good job showing how we each get locked in
our own world and are unable to reach out to eachother.
It is kind like saying, "I would rather die that let anyone
break through my shell of misery."

Nancy,
I thought your note expressed very well what I was
hoping would happen at the end. I thought that the fact
that they wept together was significant. But Lahiri left it
up in the air. Isn't that the way life is?

Jane

 
 

 Topic: 
      FW: A Temporary Matter (35 of 38), Read 23 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Ann Davey davey@tconl.com 
 Date: 
      Monday, May 20, 2002 01:18 PM 


Perhaps because I'm a pessimist, I didn't see any hope for
their relationship at the end. Furthermore, I thought the
breakup was a positive thing. Their wounds couldn't heal
while they were together and constantly reminded of their
loss.

I also thought the truth game they were playing in the
dark was very dangerous for any future happiness.
People remember those moments of candor and resent
them later. Communication is good, but a lot of things are
better left said.

Ann, who has a hard time remembering this in real life

 
 

 Topic: 
      FW: A Temporary Matter (36 of 38), Read 25 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Beej Connor connorva@mindspring.com 
 Date: 
      Monday, May 20, 2002 03:42 PM 


I got the impression that Shoba was not only bitter that
Shukumar was at the academic conference (something he
did not want to attend, and only went on her insistence)
when she went into premature labor, but that she
seemed to hold him responsible for her early delivery.

Even so, how I ached for Shoba when Shukumar admitted
that he had known the gender of the baby. I just felt it
was such a low blow. After that, how could there be any
hope for this couple?



Beej

 
 

 Topic: 
      Re: A Temporary Matter (37 of 38), Read 20 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Nancy Hudson nhallo@netscope.net 
 Date: 
      Monday, May 20, 2002 06:47 PM 


Well, I can understand your feelings, but if she were to
look at it from his
perspective, knowing her feelings at the time, I think she
could over-come
that. At least, if she really loved him, she could. I don't
know. There may
have been other problems there. Maybe she was just too
jealous of Shukumar
to make it work. We don't know that much about these
people, but it sounded
to me like Shukumar was the one who gave up a lot after
the loss of the
baby. I felt more for Shukumar who I felt was being
treated unfairly.

Nancy

----- Original Message -----
From: readReadingList Listmanager 
To: 
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2002 2:43 PM
Subject: FW: A Temporary Matter


> From: "Beej Connor" 
>
> I got the impression that Shoba was not only bitter that
Shukumar was at
the academic conference (something he did not want to
attend, and only went
on her insistence) when she went into premature labor,
but that she also
seemed to hold him responsible for her early delivery.
>
> Even so, how I ached for Shoba when Shukumar
admitted that he had known
the gender of the baby. I just felt it was such a low blow.
After that, how
could there be any hope for this couple?
> 


> Beej
>
>
>
> To reply:
mailto:readReadingList.371579@webboardhost.com
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 Topic: 
      Re: A Temporary Matter (38 of 38), Read 18 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Ann Davey davey@tconl.com 
 Date: 
      Monday, May 20, 2002 10:34 PM 


Nancy,
I felt more sympathy for the husband too. It didn't seem
like he could do anything right as far as his wife was
concerned. He was also dependent on her financially, so
the breakup would probably be tough for him, although
maybe healthier in the long run since he seemed to spend
most of his time avoiding work on his dissertation..

 

 Topic: 
      Mr. Pirzada (39 of 51), Read 49 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Jane Niemeier jniemeie@hotmail.com 
 Date: 
      Tuesday, May 21, 2002 09:50 PM 


I think that it is time to change stories. This was one of my
favorite stories. I loved the pumpkin carving session that
the girl had with Mr. Pirzada. The girl seemed to be a
substitute for his own daughters, and he filled an empty
spot in her heart.
The story is also a good commentary about the split of
India. Lilia says:
"It made no sense to me. Mr. Pirzada and my parents
spoke the same language, laughed at the same jokes,
looked more or less the same." She goes on to mention
other similarities.
Jane

 
 

 Topic: 
      Mr. Pirzada (40 of 51), Read 41 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Sherry Keller shkell@starband.net 
 Date: 
      Wednesday, May 22, 2002 06:29 AM 


I really liked this one too. I especially liked that he found
his seven daughters in the end. I haven't reread this one
yet, but your description of it reminded me of several
details. I think this is a very gentle anti-war story. Why
should people with such similarities hate each other?

Sherry

 
 

 Topic: 
      Mr. Pirzada (41 of 51), Read 41 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Robert Armstrong rla@nac.net 
 Date: 
      Wednesday, May 22, 2002 09:21 AM 


I agree: a lovely story. Mr. Pirzada represented decency
and integrity in the most subtle but powerful way. It was
very believable that Lilia missed him so much. A great
anti-war statement.

Robt

 
 

 Topic: 
      Mr. Pirzada (42 of 51), Read 39 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Lynn Isvik washualum@yahoo.com 
 Date: 
      Wednesday, May 22, 2002 10:45 AM 


I liked the way Lahiri represented the entire issue through
a child's eyes. Lilia was only aware of the things that had
impact on her life. On second thought, I'm that way too a
lot of the time, so maybe it isn't limited to a child's point of
view. The use of that POV is helpful in pointing out the
limitations of our own thinking as well.

Lynn

 
 

 Topic: 
      Re: A TEMPORARY MATTER (43 of 51), Read 36 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Edward Houghton eddh@pacbell.net 
 Date: 
      Wednesday, May 22, 2002 01:39 PM 


I thought that Shoba and Shukumar were not sure if they
were still in love, but also not sure if they were not. I think
it hinged more on sharing than the old standard
communicating. I think their moment of truth is when
Shoba learns that Shukumar has actually held the child. As
a mother, Shoba carried the baby alone; an ability she
could not share. The father cannot share until the child
reaches the outside world. They shared in the creation,
both held the child until they had to give it up. Now,
having shared the sorrow of holding their child, they have
a chance of going on with their lives. 

EDD 

 
 

 Topic: 
      No Topic (44 of 51), Read 38 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Nancy Hudson nhallo@netscope.net 
 Date: 
      Wednesday, May 22, 2002 01:45 PM 


>Love that thought. Why didn't I think of it? LOL! Good
one. It gives me even
more hope that they decide to stay together. Shoba
needed to realize that she
was being selfish and Shukumar needed to realize that
communicating his needs
and thoughts were also important. If anything, it is more a
slap in Shoba's
face, but it could be a wake-up slap.

Nancy

From: "Edward Houghton" 
>
> I thought that Shoba and Shukumar were not sure if
they were still in love,
but also not sure if they were not. I think it hinged more
on sharing 
than the old standard communicating. I think their moment
of truth
is when Shoba learns that Shukumar has actually held the
child. As a mother,
Shoba carried the baby alone; an ability she could not
share. The father cannot
share until the child reaches the outside world. They
shared in the creation,
both held the child until they had to give it up. Now,
having shared the sorrow
of holding their child, they have a chance of going on with
their lives. 

>
> EDD 
>
>
>
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>
http://www.netscope.net 

 
 

 Topic: 
      Mr. Pirzada (45 of 51), Read 40 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Edward Houghton eddh@pacbell.net 
 Date: 
      Wednesday, May 22, 2002 01:59 PM 


I didn't get a big anti-war message out of this story. Mr
Pirzada was a good family man who happened to be far
from his family. He has a social relationship with another
man from the same country. Mr Pirzada is filling the void in
his life with a family environment and talk of home. 

They are both far from the actual conflict. They are not
subject to peer pressure, or even the local propaganda
that fills a country during these upheavals. 

Mr Pirzada's relationship with the family is reminiscent of
those that we have with fellow workers, or fellow
students. They work in a certain environment but do not
necessarily sustain throughout life. Some only work in that
particular environment and could not work anywhere else.


All those people from school, that we talked and played
with; where are they now? Do we make the effort? The
people we played noon chess with? Great at the chess
board, but not life long friends. 

Mr Pirzada's real world was home with his daughters.
While Lilia thought him to be a friend, to him, Lilia was only
a surrogate daughter in his surrogate family. 


EDD

 
 

 Topic: 
      Mr. Pirzada (46 of 51), Read 29 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Jane Niemeier jniemeie@hotmail.com 
 Date: 
      Wednesday, May 22, 2002 09:41 PM 


Edd,
I loved your point about A TEMPORARY MATTER. 

I don't agree about MR. PIRZADA. I think Lahiri was telling
us that even though Lilia's family was from India and Mr.
Pirzada was from Pakistan, they were much alike. If they
had been in India/Pakistan, they would not have been
able to socialize because of hatred. I remember reading a
story about two professional basketball players from the
NBA. They were both from Czechoslovakia (from opposing
sides), and while the country was united, they were good
friends. As soon as the country split, they found reasons
to hate each other. Lilia's family and Mr. Pirzada have
enough sense to know that they can still be friends.
Jane

 
 

 Topic: 
      Mr. Pirzada (47 of 51), Read 33 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Ann Davey davey@tconl.com 
 Date: 
      Wednesday, May 22, 2002 11:07 PM 


Because Mr. Pirzada was a Moslem and the family he
visited were Hindus, I found their friendship somewhat
surprising, but heartening. Maybe I've been reading too
many stories in the news about these two groups setting
fire to each other in modern day India. 

One of the things that really struck me about the story
was that the little girl heard absolutely nothing about the
events that were so important to her family in school,
where she was learning how to be a good little American.
There was really a dichotomy between her home life and
her school life. I think maybe schools are improving, but
traditionally American kids have learned far too little about
the rest of the world.

Ann

 
 

 Topic: 
      Mr. Pirzada (48 of 51), Read 28 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Robert Armstrong rla@nac.net 
 Date: 
      Thursday, May 23, 2002 09:29 AM 


Ann,

Point well taken about our education of other countries. 

This story is pertinent right now as things heat up
between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. 

Robt

 
 

 Topic: 
      Mr. Pirzada (49 of 51), Read 15 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Sheila Ash sheila_ash@lineone.net 
 Date: 
      Saturday, May 25, 2002 12:22 PM 


Gosh, this is good isn't it?

What can I add to the discussions already on A Temporary
Matter and Mr
Pirzada?

Well, A Temporary Matter really got to me, and on
reflection I think it was
less per se to do with the fact that they had lost a baby,
but more to do
with Lahiri's amazing understanding of relationship
disintegration, whatever
the cause. The gentle yet cutting hurt found within
breaking marriages, the
games played in order to get to the point of breaking the
news of leaving. I
think they had once loved each other very deeply, now no
longer, but what
did remain was a real feeling for each other which made it
not a
straightforward thing to walk out, without a word. She
couldn't just go,
there were certain things that had to be put to rest...the
things they now
knew.

In Mr Pirzada I liked the way Lahiri opens up the world for
the young girl,
as she discovers the differences and the scope of life -
USA, Bangladesh,
famlies togther and apart.

Dare I start on Interpreter of Maladies? Lahiri has a great
turn of word and
the title is an example of that. I woudl not have know
what this meant
before reading this story but it is so apt and fits perfectly.
She strings
you along with this story...yes we all know that Mr
Kapasi's correspondence
with Mrs Dal is never going to happen, but I did not
anticipate how.

Sheila

 
 

 Topic: 
      Mr. Pirzada (50 of 51), Read 5 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Barbara Moors bar647@aol.com 
 Date: 
      Sunday, May 26, 2002 10:16 AM 


Oh, thank goodness, I made it here before the discussion
got too far ahead of me! I'm a huge fan of the art of the
short story and this collection is a perfect example of that
art.

In "A Temporary Matter", I thought Lahiri caught a crucial
element of the disintegration of a marriage. People who
have long histories together, who have shared the kind of
pain that Shoba and Shukumar experienced don't always
end marriages in an atmosphere of hate and yelling.
Sometimes, there's a sad affection which is almost more
painful. The death of the baby caused them both to build
up emotional insulation from which they couldn't emerge,
for each other, at least. They still, however, have this
bond that goes beyond friendship but isn't what they
seem to need. I agree with Ruth that this is a situation
often explored in fiction but Lahiri's illustration of this
particular aspect intrigued me.

In "Mr. Pirzada", I was most struck by how ignorant the
people around Lilia were of these events that threatened
to rob Mr. Pirzada of all he found most precious in life.
Maybe because I'm a teacher, I was appalled at the
constant retelling of the American story each year when
the world is so rich with other history and contemporary
events. I tend to think that the smugness of that attitude
is part of our problem today in our relationships with other
cultures.

Barb


 Topic: 
      RE: Mr. Pirzada (51 of 51), Read 3 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Nancy Hudson nhallo@netscope.net 
 Date: 
      Sunday, May 26, 2002 11:50 AM 


I have a few comments to make about Mr. Pirzada as well.
First of all, I
agree with
Barb that one of the points Lahiri makes so well in this
story is that
there is a great deal of cultural blindness here in the US, a
distancing
from the rest of the world. It is sort of ironic how this has
changed
somewhat since 9-11 in that we are, as a country, more
informed and
interested in what goes on on the other side of the world,
and we are
more invested in how conflicts are resolved, such as in the
Middle East
and Afghanistan, also now between India and Pakistan.
Though I am sure
that there are still many Americans who couldn't tell you
one thing
about these conflicts--those are probably in the minority
and certainly
not representative of the majority of Americans these
days, I would
think. I think this portrayal was a little heavy-handed on
the part of
Lahiri, for example when the teacher treats the book on
Asia that Lillia
picks up in the library as some kind of vermin, but I think
the basic
idea is valid. I wonder if this is something that Lahiri sees
as
peculiarly American. I agree with Barb that this attitude on
the part of
Americans, which seems to be somewhat exacerbated by
Bush policies, does
affect in a negative fashion how other countries view us. 
The other point that is made is how people who can be
considered as
enemies can still be friends and treat each other as equals
when placed
in circumstances where their differences don't matter. The
similarities
between Lilia's family and Mr. Pirzada outweigh the
differences here in
America, especially when both sides are needy. Lilia's
family wanted the
company of people of like culture, they felt isolated. Mr.
Pirzada
needed the family to keep him sane during this period
besides the
obvious needs for food and news that the family was able
to provide him.
I found it interesting though how Lilia's father wanted to
ensure that
the differences between them were kept intact, at least
intellectually.
He corrected Lilia when she called Mr. Pirzada Indian and
also made sure
she understood what was going on in India and why.
Does this reflect his
pride, his prejudices? How is he different from his wife?

Nancy

Nancy
Current Reads--The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan


Topic: 
     RE: Mr. Pirzada (52 of 54), Read 26 times  
 Conf: 
     Reading List 
 From: 
     Dean Denis dddenis@telus.net 
 Date: 
     Sunday, May 26, 2002 12:35 PM 


Barb said: "...there is a great deal of cultural blindness here in
the US, a distancing from the rest of the world."

This brings me to a peeve which I have had for some time. It is
the fact that US national weather maps which I see on television
and in newspapers never show Canada and Mexico. These
maps are graphic representations of US isolation. I know of no
other country which shows itself this way and it strikes me as a
daily contradiction that the US is more acknowledging of other
countries. I think that the media are doing a disservice to
Americans by not showing a complete map.



Dean
All roads lead to roam.


 Topic: 
     RE: Mr. Pirzada (53 of 54), Read 25 times  
 Conf: 
     Reading List 
 From: 
     R Bavetta rbavetta@prodigy.net 
 Date: 
     Sunday, May 26, 2002 01:18 PM 


Carrying that thought a little further--and they always stand in
front of California.

Back to Mr. Pirzada. This was not my favorite story in the book.
And I can't quite say why. Perhaps because her agenda was a
bit obvious?

Ruth 


 Topic: 
     RE: Mr. Pirzada (54 of 54), Read 1 times  
 Conf: 
     Reading List 
 From: 
     Tonya Presley t-pr@attbi.com 
 Date: 
     Monday, May 27, 2002 01:54 PM 


I wasn't entranced by Mr. Pirzada either, Ruth, it just sort of sat
there (in my head) without conjuring anything. There was
certainly nothing especially Pulitzer about it.

And almost ditto for A Temporary Matter, except that there was
no denying that Lahiri knows her way around a short story after
reading that one. It was after these two that Lahiri grabbed me,
and compelled me to read the next and the next and so on.

Tonya




 Topic: 
      RE: Mr. Pirzada (55 of 59), Read 23 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      R Bavetta rbavetta@prodigy.net 
 Date: 
      Monday, May 27, 2002 03:33 PM 


Same here, Tonya. I wonder why she chose to start the
collection with those. Do you suppose she thought they'd
be more appealing to most American readers? Or maybe
this was the editor's/publisher's choice.

Ruth 


 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies (56 of 59), Read 16 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Tonya Presley t-pr@attbi.com 
 Date: 
      Tuesday, May 28, 2002 11:30 AM 


I can't think why; it is not the choice I'd make. I'd probably
start with more of a wallop, and mix these two in
between stronger stuff.

So, on to Interpreter of Maladies, then?

Here is part of Konarak, showing the wheels that were
mentioned, where Mr. Kapasi took the Das family first:




 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies (57 of 59), Read 18 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Tonya Presley t-pr@attbi.com 
 Date: 
      Tuesday, May 28, 2002 11:43 AM 


And this is Udayagiri, their second stop: 



I wanted a picture of the incline they went up, but didn't
find that. In fact I couldn't find a photo that included
monkeys, too bad! That monkey scene was a fine ending.


 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies (58 of 59), Read 17 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      R Bavetta rbavetta@prodigy.net 
 Date: 
      Tuesday, May 28, 2002 12:01 PM 


Thanks, Tonya. And is that the Das family standing there
by the wheel?

Somehow this story reminded me of E.M. Forster's
Passage to India. I just went and looked it up, and the
seminal incident in that one took place not here, but at
the Marabar Caves.

Still, there's something here that puts Forster's book
strongly in mind. Can anyone help me out? 

Ruth 


 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies (59 of 59), Read 1 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Tonya Presley t-pr@attbi.com 
 Date: 
      Wednesday, May 29, 2002 11:49 AM 


That can't be the Das family, or you'd see the little
strawberry on her shirt. I was amused and puzzled by the
frequent references to that strawberry.

And her bag! Lordy, what did she not have in there?!

(This couple reminded me too much of my own parents,
who never got along all that well, and always bickered
though vacations. Ugh!)

Anyway, it's just typical, isn't it, how he indulges his
fantasy about her until she confesses to already being
that kind of woman! 



Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies (60 of 61), Read 34 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Mary Anne Papale mapreads@hotmail.com 
 Date: 
      Wednesday, May 29, 2002 08:51 PM 


It seemed like Mrs. Das was going to continue to pout her
way through the vacation until she found something, like
Mr. Kapasi's other job, that she could hang on to. It's as
though she was saying "See, I can be charming and
engaging, but my family just doesn't appreciate me." She
was in a classic passive-aggressive mode. I think Lahiri
captures that, and other kinds of very human behavior so
well.

Experience is by industry achieved, and perfected by the
swift course of time. - W. Shakespeare
MAP


 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies (61 of 61), Read 1 times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Tonya Presley t-pr@attbi.com 
 Date: 
      Friday, May 31, 2002 09:59 AM 


I thought her malady was real, and Mr. Kapasi got it in
one. The curious thing, to me, is how she could know
Bobby resulted from that one afternoon encounter? Surely
nobody can reasonably attribute a pregnancy to a specific
day, unless there isn't any other sexual activity happening
around the same time. In which case Raj would know,
too, that it wasn't his son.

I guess I wonder if she wanted it that way, because she
hates the motherhood thing, the way Raj comes home
and watches tv, all that stuff. She was mad that he
allowed the other man to stay with them. Did her
believing Bobby to be the other guy's son serve as
payback in her mind? But then it's a Pyrrhic victory when
the secrecy and the guilt of it keeps her in pain. I felt
sorry for her at the end, although I never did during all
her misbehaving along the way.

Tonya
  


 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies -- A Real Durwan (1 of 4), Read 32
      times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Sherry Keller shkell@starband.net 
 Date: 
      Thursday, June 06, 2002 07:15 AM 


We kind of lost our momentum on these when we moved
boards. I haven't reread "A Real Durwan" but I think I
remember it enough to talk about it. This is one of the few
stories that takes place entirely in India, and if I remember
correctly, no one is from another country -- but there is
displacement. The story line reminded me of people and
situations in A Fine Balance. People are living in small often
outdoor spaces, there is poverty beyond belief. What do
you all think of the residents' attitude of Boori Ma? What
happened to her?

Sherry


 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies -- A Real Durwan (2 of 4), Read 24
      times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Nancy Hudson nhallo@netscope.net 
 Date: 
      Saturday, June 08, 2002 08:11 PM 


I am sure glad to find out that the reason I wasn't getting
emails was because of the switch. I knew nothing about it
until I went to the website.Probably a good reason to post
there rather in email. Anyway, I will have to re-read this
story, since so much time has passed I have forgotten a lot
of the salient features. I also haven't started the next
book. Am trying to catch up with all my reading.


 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies -- A Real Durwan (3 of 4), Read 23
      times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      Sheila Ash sheila_ash@lineone.net 
 Date: 
      Sunday, June 09, 2002 05:51 AM 


I wrote the following down a couple of weeks ago when I
read A Real Durwan so that I wouldn't forget my first
impressions when we came round to discuss it.

The rains came here this lunch time and interrupted my
gardening, so I sat down with a cup of tea and read this
short story. Rather poignantly where it tells of Boori Ma not
remembering her last cup of tea, there was I sitting
enjoying mine! I love the characters Lahiri portrays, she
says so much with so little. You feel you know all the
occupants of this stair, this little community and its position
in Indian society. I don't know whether Boori Ma's past was
as illustrious as she painted but it was undoubtedly better
than she had even at the start of the story else she would
probably not have reached the ripe old age of 64. When I
was reading this it made me recall some of the writings of
Naguib Mafhouz, who also has this characteristics of being
able to describe character and atmosphere in one go, and
give you an incredible sense of understanding of the
foreign places, cultures and lifestyles he is writing about. 

Sheila


 Topic: 
      Interpreter of Maladies -- A Real Durwan (4 of 4), Read 22
      times  
 Conf: 
      Reading List 
 From: 
      R Bavetta rbavetta@prodigy.net 
 Date: 
      Sunday, June 09, 2002 12:27 PM 


This was one of my favorites, and for just the reasons
Sheila cited. The characters were so real. 

I, too, wondered about Boori Ma's background, and if she
was making it all up. But I decided it didn't much matter. If
it's all fabricated, I think Boori Ma has told it so many times
that she has convinced even herself.

Ruth