Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

In July I read the new collection of short stories from Jhumpa Lahiri, Unaccustomed Earth. As when I read her previous works, she captivated me with her ability to draw characters through subtle descriptions of their actions, words, and, at times, their thoughts. As before many of her characters find themselves putting down roots in "unaccustomed earth." Interestingly the quote with which she begins her collection (from Nathaniel Hawthorne) puts a positive light on that situation.

Still her characters often struggle to find their ways, sometimes with sad results. I found a couple of the stories particularly heartbreaking. As before, some of the characters stay with me, coming to mind as I go through my days. Her characters and their stories have gotten deep into me.