IN OTHER WORDS

Pulitzer Prize winner Lahiri's powerful nonfiction debut illuminates her quest to explore her identity through writing in a new language. Her memoir is written in Italian and translated into English; the production includes both versions. Her beloved Italian, which she began learning after college but never mastered, offers a refuge from the "long clash in my life from studying English and Bengali." She views her "rejection of mother and stepmother" tongues as a completely independent third path. Lahiri's voice, clear and articulate, initially strikes the ear as reserved, even aloof. But that impression fades, especially when she voices the Italian words and phrases that weave through the English translation. In addition to exploring her remarkable love affair with Italian, Lahiri voices striking insights on writing, exile, and the transformative power of language. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2016]