If certain books are to be termed 'immigrant fiction,' what do we call the rest? Native fiction? Puritan fiction? This distinction doesn't agree with me.
Jhumpa LahiriRead
In the days that follow, he begins to remember things about Moushumi, images that come to him without warning while he is sitting at his desk at work, or during a meeting, or drifting off to sleep, or standing in the mornings under the shower. They are scenes he has carried within him, buried but intact, scenes he has never thought about or had reason to conjure up until now.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects how memories of a significant person can resurface unexpectedly, revealing deep emotions and connections.
In this quote by Jhumpa Lahiri, the protagonist experiences vivid memories of Moushumi in various mundane situations of his life. These memories, previously buried within him, illustrate the profound impact someone can have on our lives, lingering beneath the surface until triggered by certain moments or feelings. It emphasizes the importance of relationships and the lasting impressions they leave, even when not actively remembered.
Themes
MemoriesRelationshipsEmotionsNostalgiaConnection
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about how certain experiences shape us, this quote can illustrate the power of past relationships.
More from Jhumpa Lahiri
All quotes →When I sit down to write, I don't think about writing about an idea or a given message. I just try to write a story which is hard enough.
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When I am experiencing a complex story or novel, the broader planes, and also details, tend to fall away.
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I think each time you start a story or novel or whatever, you are absolutely at the bottom of the ladder all over again. It doesn't matter what you've done before.
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The sky was different, without color, taut and unforgiving. But the water was the most unforgiving thing, nearly black at times, cold enough, I knew, to kill me, violent enough to break me apart. The waves were immense, battering rocky beaches without sand. The farther I went, the more desolate it became, more than any place I'd been, but for this very reason the landscape drew me, claimed me as nothing had in a long time.
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On the technical side, I hope that my writing is evolving and maturing, ripening, deepening.
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