My Pulitzer Prize Obsession Started Here: A Deep Dive On Jhumpa Lahiri’s Interpeter of Maladies

[@HannahsBooks]

I love hearing your Pulitzer background! Roman Stories is on my holiday tbr. I love JL's writing.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I love her writing too!

[@AlwaysTheStoryCollector]

I've actually read something by this author! I don't read literature (or general fiction) much or at all but it was a cover buy and the book was tiny. It was 'The Clothing of Books'. The fun thing about my translation is that the translator (Manon Smith), who translates stuff both from Italian and English, used both version to translate it into Dutch. I didn't actually knew she won a pullitzer so watching this was a delight. I want to re-read that tiny book now and see how her writing styles connect with me because 'interpreter of maladies' sounds interesting. Tangent: in Dutch the title is 'Een tijdelijk ongemak' which literary translate to 'a temporary discomfort', which is fascinating on its own.

[@curtjarrell9710]

I enjoyed this one, Greg. I worked for Barnes & Noble for 20+ years. I once manned a book fair off site for a few hours. During my coverage I read a chunk of The Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon. It was promising. I was skeptical because I found his debut novel, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh to be lacking. I need to go back and finish Kavalier... Happy reading.

[@SupposedlyFun]

My experiences with Chabon have been all over the place, but I did like Kavalier & Clay.

[@KierTheScrivener]

I read Whereabouts and moved backwards but I love this collection so much. Her simple yet evocative prose is spellbinding. I just got Roman Stories from the library and I am so excited.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I hope you love Roman Stories as much as I did! Lahiri is a remarkable writer.

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

The first book I read and loved was The Namesake The train crash scene has stayed in my head. Love Jhumpra Lahiri’s writing.

[@SupposedlyFun]

The train crash in The Namesake is really haunting.

[@lonesomedovecall822]

Love the "Deep Dives" - they're always very thorough and informative!!! 👍👍

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thanks so much! I’m glad you enjoy them.

[@parthpeterpatel]

Absolutely fantastic review. I appreciate how you mention the struggle with names, and how author is evolving with her work.

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you for watching.

[@athertonca]

That was stellar! Thank you so much for making this interesting and informative video. I read Interpreter of Maladies in probably 2000. Time for a reread.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It's very re-readable in my experience.

[@user-yg6ft1iu1i]

I also enjoy Jhumpa Lahiri’s writing haven’t read all of it but plan too. I do still need to read Interpreters of Maladies and plan to soon. My favorite prize is the International Booker I’ve paid more attention to the Pulitzer since watching your channel it’s given me the incentive to read more and more of them. I guess Teddy is waiting for weekly wrap up

[@SupposedlyFun]

I hope you like this book as much as I do if you get to it! The International Booker is a good one to follow. Teddy was having a busy day of squirrel watching!

[@carissamk1]

I actually work for US Citizenship & Immigration as an Immigration Officer, so I love me a good Immigrant story. Thank you for the recommendation. I have read The Namesake and The Lowland, but haven’t gotten to her short stories yet.

[@SupposedlyFun]

If you do pick this one up, I hope you love it as much as I do.

[@TheFilmAutopsy]

I love your deep dives!

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you so much! They are labors of love.

[@marciajohansson769]

Very interesting video. Enjoyed learning how you started on your Pulitzer prize project. I have a copy of The Namesake so I will look forward to getting to it soon! Thank you again for the great video

[@SupposedlyFun]

Thank you! I love doing these videos. If you pick up The Namesake, I hope you love it as much as I do.

[@bobbykeniston7240]

I adore "Interpreter of Maladies". Such gorgeous prose.

[@SupposedlyFun]

It really is a gorgeous book.

[@AntisocialAuntie]

Working in public libraries for 8 years, plus just basic recommendations for movies and TV, I have automatically avoided anything that was recommended by most people because of who they chose to be as people. But your videos have me interested in reading a few award winners now. I really appreciate your casual and knowledgeable opinions. Thanks for being my very low maintenance book nerd friend. 😊 Lots of love from the Pacific Northwest 🧡

[@SupposedlyFun]

I cannot tell you how THRILLED I was to be called a low maintenance book nerd friend. Like, ELATED. Thank you!

[@AntisocialAuntie]

@@SupposedlyFun 🥰

[@bookofdust]

A little earlier then you in the bookstore, I was nearby in Montclair, NJ working at the public library (I left October 2000). Earlier, I had read God of Small Things and had become entranced with India/ India diaspora literature because Roy’s book was perhaps the one book that out shone my favorite book up until that point, East of Eden. I religiously read the Sunday NYT Book Review in those days, so I’m sure I had read about Interpreter and put it on hold at my library. When it came in a coworker, who I didn’t think much of, called from circulation to tell me my book was in and I could pick it up. She said the title to me as Interpreter of Mall Ladies, and I said I don’t think that one is for me and went down to see about it. I had always thought her kind of an idiot and this was the last straw that confirmed it. That “interpretation” was enough to make the book memorable, but in and of itself the stories were stunning and remarkable, especially for a debut author. I didn’t rate books at the time, but I’m sure I would have given it five stars. This year I started a project to reread books, something I’ve always been reluctant to do - so many books, so little time and I’m a slow reader was my argument against it. But in recent years I’ve been reading 5 to 6 times the number of books that I used to read annually, so I felt I finally had leeway. I did have the rule they had to be books from prior to 2000 and in fact God of Small Things was my first reread in January. It held up perfectly, and if possible burned even brighter. A main impetus for the project was to reread East of Eden to see if it was in fact my favorite book of all time, considering I read it at 16. Ironically, I have not read it this year and have only December left. All my life I’ve been terrified that it might not live up to memory. But I think I’m going to wait and reread it next year with Classics & Company instead. That leaves the December reread slot open. I think it just might be perfect to shoehorn in Interpreter of Maladies.

[@Nina_DP]

I just love your deep dives, Greg! I had one of those days today and had to wait until after dinner to finally watch. Definitely worth the wait. I adored Interpreter of Maladies, which I only got around to reading a few months ago. (Based on your recommendation, of course.) I was traveling, and was so moved by the book I deliberately left it behind in the hopes of making some other travelers' day. I just wanted so much to share the experience, even with a stranger I'd never meet. Of course now I miss having it but I will move on to Roman Stories. So many books, so little time! Cheers!

[@ariannefowler455]

I love when you do these deep dives. I have yet to read Interpreter of Maladies but it's on my list. I have only read The Namesake and I did enjoy it.

[@SupposedlyFun]

If you get to this book, I hope you love it as much as I do.

[@shannongeier8155]

I miss Borders. I love The Namesake and will definitely read this!!!

[@davidnovakreadspoetry]

I enjoyed this deep dive very much. The video which I want to see you make is also one which may be impossible for you to do: “Pulitzer winners I hate”. 😂

[@SupposedlyFun]

Right now the only one I would say I hate is Gone With the Wind, but there’s still time! I do have some others that I disliked or DNF’ed, though.

[@KatrissT]

I'd be interested to hear what you think about Oprah's Book Club and how it's changed in your opinion. I haven't followed it that closely but occasionally hear what she's chosen.

[@SupposedlyFun]

I think in the early days of the book club, it felt more "real" (genuinely like she was selecting books and authors she loved and wanted to share). After Jonathan Franzen publicly had second thoughts about allowing The Corrections to be part of her book club, and especially after the James Frey debacle, it feels like she's become more determined to choose "safe" books. Like there are a lot of quality picks in recent years, but that's because she's choosing books like Let Us Descend, Demon Copperhead, Underground Railroad, etc. She's pretty deliberately picking guaranteed hits that most people are going to love (and which will be surrounded by praise and awards). So while in the beginning it felt more authentic (and therefore full of hits and misses), in its current incarnation its polished (and kinda lacking in personality).

[@dhurd4099]

I wish that Oprah used her influence to choose a lesser known but brilliant author that could use (and deserves) a boost

[@SupposedlyFun]

That’s the way it used to be!

[@sublime8728]

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy is a a superlative, sublime and a much better book than Interpeter of Maladies.

[@shannongeier8155]

"Even though there are many times I don't agree with their choices." Oh poor, sweet past Greg. You have no idea what's coming in just 6 months and the pain it will bring you and the damage it will wrought when you hurl it across the room. 🫂