Lahiri derives the title of this collection of short stories from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s quote in The Custom House where he argues that humans, like potatoes, need to be transplanted into “unaccustomed earth” every now and then for them to flourish. The eponymous first story, and the others as well, explore this concept delightfully.
The book has six stories, the last of which is a novella in three parts. While all of them deal with Indian Bengali immigrants in the US and deal with the cultural challenges faced by them (except for Nobody's Business which could have been based on anyone), they deal with different aspects, ranging from guilt, fragility of marriages, a secret romance, alcoholism, cowardice, and redemption. Some of them end on an optimistic note, some end tragically while Lahiri has kept other endings open.
I find it very difficult to rank these stories but if I had to choose the one I enjoyed the most, it would be the eponymous one. Unaccustomed Earth explores the dynamics between a retired first-generation US immigrant, and his daughter, Ruma, who is married to an American and settled in Seattle. Ruma resents her father’s impersonal relationship with his family and her forced relocation to a new city. Her father, on the other hand, feels guilty about the lack of intimacy with his children and the fact that he seems to enjoy life more after his wife’s death. He finds redemption through the advice that he gives his daughter during a week-long stay with her and through his relationship with his young grandson. Ruma’s simple action in the last two lines of the story indicates that she may have put some of her own ghosts to rest as well.
One of the complaints that I’ve come across about her writing is that she’s somewhat monotonous. Her stories are usually centred around Bengali immigrants in the US, the inherent conflicts created by this dual identity and the dynamics of inter-generational relationships. While that is true to some extent, it does not detract from the enjoyment of her writing as each story explores different facets of human relationships. Overall, Lahiri’s writing is simple yet elegant and her stories have several nuances that makes even repeated readings enjoyable. I also found it easy to place myself in the shoes of the various characters and wondered how I would have reacted to similar situations. This book is ideal for a book-reading club.
Pros: Simple and elegant writing, even repeated readings are enjoyable
Cons: Her universe seems limited to immigrant Bengalis in the US
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