Whereabouts: A Novel by Jhumpa Lahiri

Published on February 10, 2022

Reviewed by Marybeth Ginsberg

Whereabouts (2021), the newest novel by Jhumpa Lahiri, is told from the point of view of an unnamed, middle-aged writer living in Italy in an unnamed city. We learn about her through her routine activities, observations, reflections, and encounters. The narrator’s sense of her place in the world is revealed as the reader travels with her on the sidewalk, in the street, in the office, at the trattoria, in my head, at the coffee bar, etc.

Lahiri carefully crafts description and provides a view of the narrator as a woman who is feeling empty and sad. We get a clear sense of her loneliness through her singular endeavors and activities. As the narrator reflects on her life, Lahiri’s words allow the reader to feel keenly aware of the narrator's mood. Through her words, Lahiri conveys to the reader a longing for change. While reflection is sometimes a painful process for the narrator, her insights eventually enable her to move forward.

Language is key in Whereabouts because it works to convey the narrator’s sense of self and sense of the world. Language is Lahiri's gift and she uses it to create a character with emotional depth. With time, the reader begins to notice a subtle shift in the narrator's perspective. With this, we feel immersed in her change.

Whereabouts is a new novel from Jhumpa Lahiri, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Lowland and Interpreter of Maladies. It is her first novel in nearly a decade. Originally written in Italian, this book was translated by the author.  

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐