wildharted's review
4.0
This was a really interesting book but I also understand why it has a lower rating that it does. This book is for a specific reader and will resonate well with them. The book reads more like a journal as the author explores the Italian language, the nuances of it, and the identity struggle with not only Italian, but her past with other languages and cultures. For anyone that's worked to learn a language at any level, or has spent time exploring and reinventing parts of their identity, this book could be a really interesting read. If you're looking for more of a story, this isn't exactly it. It's a good book and the fact that it was originally written in Italian while she was learning it is extremely impressive and an inspiring exercise.
nkoochou's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
the beginning of this book was enthralling, and i really liked the two short stories that appeared in its chapters, but partway through it felt too repetitive and abstract. i needed it to be grounded in some reality, like specific instances in Italy that were impactful to the author. i appreciate this book because i am someone who wishes to pursue a teaching career in Italy even though i’m not Italian, but overall this book was just okay.
jiscoo's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
5.0
honest, fearless, and unpretentious writing about going off the deep end in a new language. a little insane but isn't that really the only way to learn a language?
rachelb36's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
Firstly, this is a bilingual book, so it's much shorter than I realized - only about one hundred pages.
I could certainly relate to some of the author's struggle to learn a new language, but I didn't really understand her disdain for English. She spoke solely Bengali until preschool, when she was immersed in English; I get that this could be somewhat traumatic. But eventually, she masters the language and goes on to become a writer.
I also didn't see why she loves Italian more when she's so much more limited in it than in English. I'm currently in a foreign country, struggling to communicate in even the most basic way, and I know that when I can speak English again, it will taste like water in a dry land...
The essays/chapters were repetitive, all saying the same thing in slightly different words.
And weirdly, Lahiri incorporated two short stories into the already-short book.
For those who need encouragement in learning another language, this is an okay read, but certainly not the best. I would have preferred for the author to write a more detailed and nuanced memoir in English.
(Also, what was her family doing for these three years in Italy? They're barely mentioned!)
Firstly, this is a bilingual book, so it's much shorter than I realized - only about one hundred pages.
I could certainly relate to some of the author's struggle to learn a new language, but I didn't really understand her disdain for English. She spoke solely Bengali until preschool, when she was immersed in English; I get that this could be somewhat traumatic. But eventually, she masters the language and goes on to become a writer.
I also didn't see why she loves Italian more when she's so much more limited in it than in English. I'm currently in a foreign country, struggling to communicate in even the most basic way, and I know that when I can speak English again, it will taste like water in a dry land...
The essays/chapters were repetitive, all saying the same thing in slightly different words.
And weirdly, Lahiri incorporated two short stories into the already-short book.
For those who need encouragement in learning another language, this is an okay read, but certainly not the best. I would have preferred for the author to write a more detailed and nuanced memoir in English.
(Also, what was her family doing for these three years in Italy? They're barely mentioned!)
suhmown6's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.75
Lahiri's novel is an unexpected love story With an unusual love interest (a language, Italian), it touches so many types of love (new, instant, familial, friendly, lost, long-distance)
Anyone who has endeavored to learn a new language, is multilingual, plays an instrument, or dreams of unexplored places will find solace in this book. While this book is a bit slow at times, it is actively challenging the definition of a novel. This book is meant to be experienced, not just read. My only complaint was some of the commentary felt a bit too heavy handed but that can possibly be attributed to the autor's desire for translation (she wrote this book in Italian, her third language, and chose to not translate it herself in an effort to reduce self-editing).
Anyone who has endeavored to learn a new language, is multilingual, plays an instrument, or dreams of unexplored places will find solace in this book. While this book is a bit slow at times, it is actively challenging the definition of a novel. This book is meant to be experienced, not just read. My only complaint was some of the commentary felt a bit too heavy handed but that can possibly be attributed to the autor's desire for translation (she wrote this book in Italian, her third language, and chose to not translate it herself in an effort to reduce self-editing).