I decided to read this after reading =The Namesake late last year and loving it. I rarely read books to relate to them (something I also noted in my Namesake review), but in Jhumpa Lahiri, I've found the most relatable author I've ever read. Yes, her characters are Indian, but the cultural observations of coming to the U.S. from somewhere else--anywhere else steeped in native tradition, like Panama for myself--and growing up/coming of age in the U.S. resonates so much with me. Not only that, but many of her stories are set in New England, in Connecticut and Boston- places I know well. When she writes about a character living on Commonwealth Ave, I get excited knowing that I once lived there too.

Her stories are beautiful, tragic, and insightful. Some are funny, most make me want to cry. I loved this collection, and can't wait to read more Lahiri.