Interpreter of Maladies

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri is a book of short stories about various Indian people. The connecting thread between each story seems to be an element of love. Some are searching for love, some are adjusting to a new love, some are discovering a loss of love. Each story gets to the heart of its characters. Lahiri knows how to develop stories that pull at heartstrings and make the reader mourn for the characters. All of the stories, except one, resonate with a deep sadness that can begin to feel overwhelming. The last story, however, saves the reader from sorrow by offering hope and happiness. Read this book if you liked Lahiri's novel The Namesake, if you enjoy short stories, or if you are looking for a quick read with deep meaning. I give it a 9 out of 10.