Unaccustomed EarthUnaccustomed Earth
Score Modern
What it's about
Eight stories about Bengali families in America and their children. In the title story, a young mother in Seattle is visited by her widowed father, who has a secret of his own. Other stories follow a brother whose drinking threatens his sister's wedding, and, in three linked stories, a boy and girl whose families are friends and whose lives cross over decades.
Why it's worth reading
It hit #1 on the New York Times list, a rare feat for short stories. Lahiri, a Pulitzer winner, writes quietly and precisely about family, love and belonging.
You'll love it if you liked
Interpreter of Maladies
Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage
Olive KitteridgeGood to know
The stories are long and slow-burning. The final three, about Hema and Kaushik, are among her best.
By the numbers
- Readers70 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller64 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- 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
- #386 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #763 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by Jhumpa Lahiri
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All the Light We Cannot See
Americanah
A Little Life
The Help
Pachinko
Shuggie BainExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is Unaccustomed Earth worth reading?
Yes. It hit #1 on the New York Times list, a rare feat for short stories. It ranks #763 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 75.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Unaccustomed Earth about?
Eight stories about Bengali families in America and their children. In the title story, a young mother in Seattle is visited by her widowed father, who has a secret of his own. Other stories follow a brother whose drinking threatens his sister's wedding, and, in three linked stories, a boy and girl whose families are friends and whose lives cross over decades.
How long does it take to read Unaccustomed Earth?
About 8 hours (333 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Unaccustomed Earth?
If you liked it, try Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri, Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage by Alice Munro or Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout.