Whereabouts

"Whereabouts," a captivating novel by Jhumpa Lahiri, is a departure from her previous works. While it bears her name, it unveils a different facet of the author, presenting a potent portrayal of a middle-aged, single woman who grapples with the dualities of solitude and social interaction. Mundane aspects of life are transformed into extraordinary moments within its pages. For instance, a simple visit to a beloved stationery store becomes a mesmerizing journey as the narrator replenishes her supplies. Lahiri employs her storytelling prowess in remarkable ways. By eschewing a conventional plot, she delves into the exploration of everyday rituals through fragmented narratives that prioritize the characters' voices over their actions. These conflicting paradoxes have long been the essence of Lahiri's storytelling, but in "Whereabouts," she delves into them with an unparalleled level of intimate disquiet. Lahiri's fearlessness as a writer shines through as she meticulously crafts her characters' lives, laying bare their hearts, minds, and even their souls. Her writing feels like a form of sorcery, weaving deliberate yet emotional narratives, revealing both vulnerability and mystery, while her characters bear the weight of their lives with a concealed hope for the future. In her Italian prose, Lahiri presents an even more unguarded version of herself, generously sharing her inner world with readers.

chapter no 43 'at the crypt' pushed the book to a five star peak for me. the gelidity that permeates majority of the narrator's observations throughout the 46 vignettes was something i deeply felt. then you add the miscellany of conscious detachedness and content solitude, voilà.

I absolutely love Lahiri’s writing. It’s her poetic flare for writing which makes this book without a plot so incredibly beautiful. Reading it feels like sipping on a warm cup of tea, that sometimes turns cold but even then, tastes just as good.

My my so raw and dreamy

A very original novel, rich and descriptive portraying the ordinary as something remarkable. Her description of solitude; her attachment to it, despite her subtle need to connect is fascinatingly relatable.

Not a favorite. The meanderings felt aimless with a few relatable points mixed in.

i really liked this book. it was ultimately just a bunch of short stories abt the author people watching. so interesting and insightful .

I am surprised how much I loved this book - I think it came to me in the most perfect moment, and if I had read it at any other time, I don't think I would have enjoyed it this much.

Nothing much happens in this book, but I didn't find it boring at all - it was like I was invited to accompany a person as they go about their day, and there is no rush, to stress or worry or chaos. You get to be calm, to go through their day and see things as they see them, and learn details about them in a way that felt natural to me. 

I am absolutely happy with this book!

Mixed bag of a book. Some chapters remain in my chest, others fleeted away before I could even turn the page.

This was concerned with a very high degree of verisimilitude, only some of which was interesting. Similar to many short story collections, there are highs and lows. The later of which, even with great narration, basically became white noise, to me.

Loved the language

This is the first book I read from the author. I'm not expecting anything when I started reading the book. I've read she's won many awards for literature though I'm still new with her writing. So I'm still weighing things. but I was surprised when I begin on the first page, it's like I'm talking to myself in another person's point of view, seeing others in that peaceful gaze of deep thoughts and musings. Time suddenly became slow, the mood shifts, now I'm with this unnamed woman in an unknown city with people of no names but with great importance. Even though I didn't get the chance to have a name to call each of them, their impression had left deeper marks on me, as if journeying with friends I've never met in my lifetime but still did because I'm with this woman. she sees things with more passion, more meaning, thoughts, and wonders. Her story is like walking down on a cobblestone street, staying in an old bookstore beside a museum and a library of a thousand years old. It is reaching the parts of myself that were grasping for air, wanting to resurface. it made me want to write down more poems of my own, with the hopes that maybe someday someone like me will read it too and felt the same, makes me feel like I am not alone. Her story wraps around me now, reminding me that everyday's encounters are not in vain. I enjoyed the realness of it, the truth that clings so much it even hurt a little. all I know is that, after reading it, I still need more. Some might say that reading someone's thoughts on things of everyday life, musings on the ordinary, slowly living and immersing in the beautiful, might not be a big deal. But the author's way of sketching this world, this life, this perspective makes me see the world in the eyes of a woman that somehow felt like a part of me. I know that each woman who'll get to read this will see parts of themselves if not holistically but fragments of who they are. the melancholic atmosphere of this story shifts a bit in the end without letting go of the slow living feeling from the lead. As that happens, I know, that life continues, in reality. Because that's what was truly bound to happen after all. but I must admit, I'll miss seeing the world in her perspective. it will take some time to get past her story, or maybe, never. follow my blog: trapped inside stories follow me on bookstagram: @trappedinsidestories

Some of the language from the book will stick with me until I die. A must read!

I read this in one day. I loved how this was set up in vignettes and i flew through it.

(2.75/5)