14 June 2017: "Mine is probably 'Interpreter of Maladies,' because that guy was so ridiculous..." --a student in my class today, in response to my asking which of the stories in Lahiri's collection was her favorite.
I loved this response because, though it doesn't make much sense out of context, it speaks to what makes this story--and the entire collection--so strong. The characters are frustrating, fallible, and so completely real and recognizable. Think about it: to say that a story with a "ridiculous" main character is your favorite means that you understand that ridiculousness--that it is familiar and memorable.
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