Interpreter of MaladiesInterpreter of Maladies
Score Modern
What it's about
Jhumpa Lahiri's first book is a collection of nine stories about Indians and Indian Americans. A young couple in Boston, grieving a stillborn child, confess secrets to each other during a nightly power outage. A tour guide in India who works as a doctor's interpreter becomes infatuated with an American tourist. A girl in New England watches a family friend follow the news of a war in East Pakistan. The stories are quiet, precise and deeply felt.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Pulitzer Prize, a rare win for a debut story collection, and has sold millions of copies. It's one of the most acclaimed debuts of its era.
You'll love it if you liked
Where I'm Calling From
Americanah
A Fine BalanceGood to know
It's short and can be read one story at a time. "A Temporary Matter" and the title story are good places to start.
By the numbers
- Readers78 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics67 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller30 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #178 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #359 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by Jhumpa Lahiri
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Quick answers
Is Interpreter of Maladies worth reading?
Yes. It won the Pulitzer Prize, a rare win for a debut story collection, and has sold millions of copies. It ranks #359 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 80.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Interpreter of Maladies about?
Jhumpa Lahiri's first book is a collection of nine stories about Indians and Indian Americans. A young couple in Boston, grieving a stillborn child, confess secrets to each other during a nightly power outage. A tour guide in India who works as a doctor's interpreter becomes infatuated with an American tourist. A girl in New England watches a family friend follow the news of a war in East Pakistan. The stories are quiet, precise and deeply felt.
How long does it take to read Interpreter of Maladies?
About 5 hours (212 pages), or about 10 days at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Interpreter of Maladies won?
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner (2000).
What should I read after Interpreter of Maladies?
If you liked it, try Where I'm Calling From by Raymond Carver, Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie or A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry.