Review: Himalaya: A Human History

Himalaya: A Human History by Ed Douglas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was about to give up on this book, since in the beginning it seems like it will just be a personal memoir of his hikes. 

However, it quickly changes, and starts discussing the history of the region, which is about as complicated as can be, with an extremely varied and colorful range of people, civilizations and events. 

I saw one of the reviewers saying that the detailed chapters about the people venturing there was “rather a slog”, but I have to disagree. It seems like every one of the characters covered here could merit a book in their own right. I can’t help thinking there should be more people from local areas to be covered, but much of this depends on records, which may not exist. 

As it is, however, there was too much for me to remember. 

Regardless, probably the definitive book about the region, at least for beginners. 

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Review: The Third and Final Continent

The Third and Final Continent by Jhumpa Lahiri
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a re-read, and I have to say I still enjoyed it. In fact, reading it on its own (without the other short stories in the collection) might have made it stand out more. 

I keep telling myself to read more Lahiri. I really need to make that one of my new year's resolutions. 

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Review: Interpreter of Maladies

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ok I'm pretty embarrassed. I started reading this book and found myself really enjoying the first couple stories. In fact, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed them. So I started wondering why I was so surprised, and tried to remember what I had thought of previous Lahiri books. Only then did I realize this is my first Jhumpa Lahiri book. 

I've been calling myself a fan of hers for a while, ever since I heard her interview with Tyler Cowen, and read about how she moved to Italy, learned Italian, translated Starnone's "I Lacci" into English (which I then read), and then wrote her own novel in Italian, which she also then translated (and I have yet to read). 

But this is the first original work of hers that I have read. Usually short stories are always hit or miss for me, but I must say these were pretty much all hits. If I had to pick, I'd say my favorites were:

When Mr. Pirzada came to dine

Interpreter of Maladies

Mrs. Sen's

The Treatment of Bibi Haldar

The Third and Final Continent

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