Jhumpa Lahiri is my favorite modern writer, so I could go on and on about how wonderful her most recent book was.  However, to limit my ramblings, I’ve narrowed down my praise to a top ten list.  So, in no particular order, here are the reasons why all of you should read this excellent book:

• Jhumpa Lahiri writes about places in Boston that remind me of my time there.  Sometimes, I feel as if she saw the city the way I did.   
• The stories in her newest book are so heartfelt that it seems as if a description of a person’s shrug can tell everything about that individual’s entire lifetime of joys and sorrows. 
• Each tale invites the reader to think of personal moments of anguish, even though I never felt completely depressed when reading.
• Even though some of the settings are completely familiar to me (Boston Common, Harvard Square), other descriptions take me across the globe to places I’ve never encountered (Calcutta, Thailand). 
• I was completely surprised by the ending.  It seemed like the only way the book could end, and still it completely shocked me. 
• The book felt both modern with its depictions of relationships yet had a classic tone as well. 
• I could relate to the characters regardless of their ages.  One woman who was a mother had such a compelling story that I felt like I knew her somehow.
• Every time I read a section or a story, I wanted to share everything I had just learned. 
• The stories are about love, but not in a sappy way.   
• Ms. Lahiri’s writing always makes me examine my own heart and evaluate the things that are most important to me.