February Book Review: Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Have you ever had tears streaming down your face while reading a short story?
Jhumpa Lahiri has done it again! A few years ago, I read her latest collection of short stories, Unaccustomed Earth. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to read her debut collection and Pulitzer Prize winner, Interpreter of Maladies.
What an effect it had on me!

Here's a review from the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/06/books/books-of-the-times-liking-america-but-longing-for-india.html

As with all short stories, you have your favourites and I got into the habit of jotting down a one- sentence summary on the Contents page to refresh my memory in the on-chance that I pick up the book in the future. I also added a 3-star rating system.

A short story can take you on such an emotional journey! You get a glimpse into the lives of these oh-so-ordinary individuals and, in the course of only a few pages, you care for them and feel that you know them so well. You are a witness to their humanity, to their struggles, to their vulnerabilities.

Lahiri writes simply with such delicate and precise language. Beauty and humanity resonate in her characters!

Perhaps I really like her stories because they are character-driven and I can visualize them (and dramatize them in my head)  as one-act plays ;)

Found on a Downtown Ottawa Pole

Made me smile!

Pictures: Mer Bleue Boardwalk in February

There is such quietude on a Saturday morning walk in the fresh air!

Well... as long as you are far from Margot ;)

Snowflake Kingdom

It's Winterlude season in Ottawa!

This morning we checked out the Snowflake Kingdom at Jacques Cartier Park. My disheveled brother, Jason, and Margot's cousin/best friend/brother//hand-me downs provider, Noa, joined us.

The key is to arrive the minute Jacques-Cartier park opens. 9am on the dot. Not only do you get unlimited parking possibilities (in an area which can be quite difficult to find a free parking spot - except if you  live at 205 Laurier ) , but you also beat the crowds (too many kids and their parents!) who show up at around 10am.

As you can see, the sky was blue (i.e. the air was cold!), the snow was ample, and the snow pants were put to good use!

Margot enjoying her first beaver tail!

January Book Review: A Visit From The Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

While reading this "novel", I kept wondering "Where is this going?..."
Not only did it win the 2010 Pulitzer Prize and several awards, but it was also recommended by a dear friend and bibliophile.  I had to give it a chance and I knew there was something more to it.

Each chapter is a short story of its own and while some of them took me on an emotional journey, others left me indifferent and disengaged.

I wish I had read this before:
http://www.randomhouse.com/book/201020/a-visit-from-the-goon-squad-by-jennifer-egan/9780307592835/?view=reader'sguide#reader'sguide
(although the author does say that I was reading it perfectly!)

About half way through the book, I started to get into it and flip back to previous chapters (which is always a good sign). When done reading,  I put it down and pondered for awhile about the journey of the characters. I picked it up again and reread a few pages I had dog-eared.

My random thoughts about the book (I'm hesitant to call it a novel since each chapter is a story on its own): It's about life. It's about endings and forever. It's about dreams and lost hope. It's about youthful abandon and society's expectations. It's about growing up and growing old. It's sad and moving.
It makes you appreciate the moments and hug your loved ones.

Susan turned to him suddenly and said "Let's make sure it's always like this". And so entwined were their thoughts at that point that Ted knew exactly why she'd said it - because she's felt the passage of time. And then Ted felt it too (...) and he'd held Susan's hand and said , "Always. It will always be like this." (p.231)
(and just to burst the hope bubble: no it won't)

Yes, I will reread it.
Thank you Bex for sharing this journey with me.