‘In other words’ by Jhumpa Lahiri
Every book by Lahiri has helped me in my quest to be, but I have chosen In other words for this list because it’s about learning a new language as an adult, a “what the hell am I doing?” experience if ever there was one. Feeling alienated from both the languages she already spoke, English and Bengali, Lahiri continues an intensely personal and singularly focused quest to learn Italian. There was almost no reason to become fluent in a new language in her forties, when there were other pressing tasks – raising children, writing books, generating income. But learning Italian was central to Lahiri’s own formation, and therefore rightly took precedence in her life. The memoir is incredibly inspiring and highlights the threat others can feel in the face of one’s transformation. Lahiri writes: “They don’t understand why I want to take such a risk. These reactions do not surprise me. A transformation, especially one that is deliberately sought, is often perceived as something disloyal, threatening.” The key, then, in the making is to be fearless in your commitment to yourself.
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