Unaccustomed Earth

The book, ‘Unaccustomed Earth’ is a collection of short stories which reveal the patterns and layers of human emotions and the complicated links of relationships. The stories in this book focus on the lives and issues of the Indian American community and their struggle to find the best of both cultures. The crisp narration and profound analysis of human emotions makes these stories engaging. The book has been written by Jhumpa Lahiri. The book won several awards including the famous literary award – the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award in the year 2008. This book was also featured on the list of 10 Best Books of 2008 complied by The New York Times.

The first story in this book collection which is also the title of this book, “Unaccustomed Earth” presents the diverse world views of various generations. This is a story which sheds light on the evaluation of gender in the American society. The second story talks about two individuals who come together due to a strong feeling of ‘homesickness’. It also highlights the changing nature of human behaviour and how it often becomes difficult to judge a person. The third story reveals the hidden patterns of a relationship in marriage through the story of the couple Amit and Megan, who manage to celebrate their relationship even when things go south. The story of Hema and Kaushik follows a gripping narration and it has been segregated in three different parts. This is a story of how two individuals can stay together despite being different in their approach to life. The book talks about how these differences get them closer even after a break of many years.