The English Book Club: December 2024

Noelia's contribution

The Book

After watching the film adaptation, It Ends with Us, I felt deeply disappointed. The movie tries to tackle the deep emotional and psychological complexities of an abusive relationship. Still, in the end, it feels like a slow rhythm, superficial and missing the story's heart. For this reason, I picked up Collen Hoover's original novel, and I'm glad I did, as the book offers far finer emotional and psychological aspects of the same story.

Source: Amazon

It Ends with Us follows Lily Bloom, who falls in love with Ryle Kincaid, a charming neurosurgeon. At first, the relationship seems perfect, but as the relationship continues, Ryle's dark and abusive side begins to surface. What surprise me the most is how the author portrays the complexity of an abusive relationship, particularly the emotional manipulation that can make it so difficult for the victim to leave or split out of this relationship.

The book also explores the generational trauma of abuse. Lily reflects on her mother's abusive relationship with her father. This theme of breaking the cycle of abuse resonates deeply in the novel, explaining the difficulties of escaping from toxic patterns and the possibility of healing and change.

In conclusion, while the film adaptation doesn't live up to it, the book is a powerful, thought-provoking reading. It's a love story, trauma and the strength it takes to leave behind what hurts you.

The Author

Source: El Pais

Colleen Hoover is a bestselling American author known for her emotional and often controversial novels, primarily in the genres of contemporary romance, young adult, and psychological thrillers. Born on December 11, 1979, in Sulphur Springs, Texas, Hoover initially pursued a career in social work before turning to writing. She self-published her first novel, Slammed, in 2012, which quickly gained attention and led to a major publishing deal. Her success as a self-published author was groundbreaking, and she became one of the most prominent figures in the world of contemporary fiction.

Hoover's writing is characterized by its raw emotion, deeply flawed characters, and exploration of complex themes such as love, loss, trauma, and healing. Some of her most popular books include It Ends with Us, Verity, Confess, and November 9. It Ends with Us has been particularly influential, touching on sensitive topics like domestic abuse and the complexities of abusive relationships, and has been adapted into a film.

Youtube - Sony Pictures Entertainment - It End With Us

The book contains several short stories. The story chosen for the January meeting is the story inside the book with the same title: “ Interpreter of maladies.”

The Book

Source: Amazon

Interpreter of Maladies (1999), Jhumpa Lahiri’s debut collection of nine short stories, delves into the lives of Indian and Indian-American characters navigating the complexities of identity, cultural displacement, and human relationships. The stories are set in both India and the United States, often portraying individuals caught between traditional Indian values and the Western world.

The title story, Interpreter of Maladies, follows an Indian tour guide who serves as a translator for a troubled American couple, exploring themes of miscommunication and unfulfilled desires. Other standout stories, such as A Temporary Matter and When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine, examine loss, estrangement, and the quiet struggles of everyday life.

Lahiri’s prose is celebrated for its elegance and emotional depth, capturing nuanced moments of human vulnerability. Her ability to render the inner lives of her characters with such precision resonated deeply with readers and critics alike.

Interpreter of Maladies received widespread acclaim and won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2000, catapulting Lahiri to international fame. The collection also received the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award and the New Yorker’s Best Debut of the Year distinction. Lahiri’s poignant exploration of universal themes has ensured the book’s enduring popularity, marking it as a modern literary classic.

The Author

Source: Wikipedia

Jhumpa Lahiri (born July 11, 1967, in London, England) is an acclaimed author and translator of Indian descent. Raised in Rhode Island, USA, Lahiri’s work explores themes of identity, displacement, and cultural hybridity, often reflecting her Bengali heritage and immigrant experience. She earned degrees in English literature from Barnard College, Boston University, and an MFA from Boston University.

Lahiri's literary debut, Interpreter of Maladies (1999), a collection of short stories, won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and established her as a significant voice in contemporary literature. Her first novel, The Namesake (2003), was adapted into a film directed by Mira Nair and received critical acclaim for its portrayal of immigrant struggles and generational conflicts.

Subsequent works, including Unaccustomed Earth (2008) and The Lowland (2013), continued to garner praise and awards. Lahiri later transitioned to writing in Italian, a language she learned as an adult, publishing In Other Words (2015) and Whereabouts (2021). She has also translated Italian works into English, demonstrating her deep commitment to linguistic and cultural exploration.

Currently, Lahiri teaches creative writing and continues to influence global literature through her unique narratives and cross-cultural insights.

External interesting links

Video Reviews of the book