For that story, I took as my subject a young woman whom I got to know over the course of a couple of visits. I never saw her having any health problems - but I knew she wanted to be married. Jhumpa Lahiri couplehealthknow Change image and share on social
When I write a book, characters come to life for me somewhere at the back of my head. I strive to make them flesh and blood in an abstract way, in words. Jhumpa Lahiri abstractbackblood Change image and share on social
I was always aware of what the language I was using meant in terms of my bond with my parents - how it defined the lines of affection between us. When I spoke English, I felt I wasn't completely their child any more but the child of another language. Jhumpa Lahiri affectionawarebond share on social
I think about the structure, sure. I think about what's going to happen, and how it's going to happen, and the pace. But I think if I stop to think about it in an abstract sense, I feel very daunted. I just try to enter into the story and feel my way through it. It's a very murky, intuitive way of going about it. Jhumpa Lahiri abstractdauntenter share on social
I've seen novels that have grown out of one story in a collection. But it hasn't occurred to me to take any of those stories and build on them. They seem very finished for me, so I don't feel like going back and dredging them up. Jhumpa Lahiri backbuildcollection share on social
They've lived here now for more than half of their lives, and they raised a family here and now have grandchildren here... It has become their home, but at the same time, for my parents, I don't think either of them will ever consciously think, 'I am an American.' Jhumpa Lahiri americanconsciouslyfamily share on social
For years, I sort of would try to write a story that somehow fit the title. And I don't think it happened for maybe another four years that I actually thought of a story, the plot of a story that corresponded to that phrase. Jhumpa Lahiri correspondfithappen share on social
Even printed, on pages that are bound, sentences remain unsettled organisms. Years later, I can always reach out to smooth a stray hair. And yet, at a certain point, I must walk away, trusting them to do their work. I am left looking over my shoulder, wondering if I might have structured one more effectively. Jhumpa Lahiri bindeffectivelyhair share on social
I love Rome. I'm very happy there. I wasn't in New York. Jhumpa Lahiri happyloverome Change image and share on social
A lot of my upbringing was about denying or fretting or evading. Jhumpa Lahiri denyevadefret Change image and share on social