Rated 5 out of 5. First posted on Goodreads. More on the reading page.

I can think of no other writer who can capture the voice of an entire generation, in all its complexity and emotional nuance, as well as Lahiri does. As the title suggests and like her previous works – The Namesake and the Interpreter of Maladies — Unaccustomed Earth focuses on the first and second generation Indian immigrant in America and the inherent tensions between country, generation and language.

The book comes in two parts, the first being five spellbounding short stories, that continues to cement Lahiri’s legacy of being one of the finest writers of the short form. The second part is a mini novella titled ‘Hema and Kaushik’. I was initially a tad disappointed as I was hoping for more of Lahiri’s delectable shorts, but her craft quickly reeled me in and by the end I was completely invested in the story, a part of me wishing it didn’t end so soon. Lahiri’s superpower of painting vivid and rich characters, seemingly without effort, is on full display here, especially with her portrayal of Kaushik.

Even if you’re neither an immigrant in America nor draw lineage to India, I can highly recommend this book, if for nothing else other than to witness a word wizard at work.