Interpreters of Maladies

       My selection for the book club book is Interpreter of Maladies; a collection of short stories written by, Jhumpa Lahiri. The fact that it was a combination of short stories as opposed to a novel initially sparked my interest. The first short story deals with a couple who are in a struggling marriage. They finally make a breakthrough during dinner, and they continually heal the relationship when they are at the dinner table. The two become comfortable with each other once they begin eating.

                Interpreters of Maladies revolves around an Indian family that discuss their issues. The book is comprised of short stories so they are not connected. The reoccurring theme in each story is the discussion around the dinner table. Indian food and dinner was important in the first two stories I read. It seemed as if all the problems have gone away once the characters began eating. According to the author, Jhumpa Lahiri, food is more than something you eat. It's a conversation. It's family bonding. It's peace of mind.

               After reading the first two stories, I began thinking about how much food relates to my social life. I realize that the most time I spend with my parents at the dinner table and how dinner is always prepared every night. It makes me appreciate food and eating together even more. I always hear about how eating dinner is important to build a strong family, however; I never actually realized the effects it had until now. I also need to try some Indian food since I've never eaten it.