Unaccustomed Earth

Borrowed this from a JustBooks outlet near my place. Unaccustomed Earth is a collection of short stories that follow in the wake of the wildly successful "Interpreter of Maladies".

While Interpreter ... was the work of someone focusing on getting the story to hit home, Unaccustomed Earth (which is also the first story in this book) is an exercise in abject indulgence. Granted I've read the first, and longest story so far, but here's what seems to be happening ... Jhumpa is certain we will read everything she writes because she's a Pulitzer winner and therefore she painfully trudges through incesseant details about a child walking from one room into another, or a man putting luggage into the trunk of a car, etc etc.... worthless trinkets that add nothing to the narrative and serve no discernible purpose except that they maybe rid her of the need to ask herself if the detail is necessary, causing her to break that ephemeral and Pulitzer laden train of thought.


It's a very tiresome read, made egregious by the fact that the story lacks the punch required to make the effort worth the while. Come on Jhumpa, EDIT for Chrissake!!!