Rating: 4 stars
Cover synopsis: Winner of the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for fictuion, this collection unerringly charts the emotional journeys of characters seeking love beyond the barriers of nations and generations.
This is an interesting collection of short stories written about Indian immigrants to America, or second-generation Indian-Americans. But I wouldn't say that the stories were much about immigrants, or Indians, or anything cultural. Rather, they were about universal feelings, emotions, relationships...with a bit of culture mixed in for context.
All of the stories were incredibly well-written and a literary pleasure to read. But some of the tales themselves were hit-and-miss. For instance, I didn't particularly care for the title story, "Interpreter of Maladies" (a disappointment because I love that title!). But most of the others were poignant and insightful looks into every-day relationships. Among my favorite tales were "When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine," "This Blessed House" and "The Third and Final Continent." These weren't sensational, gripping tales. But quiet truths plainly illustrated.
