Whereabouts: By Jhumpa Lahiri

  

'Solitude: it’s become my trade. As it requires a certain discipline, it’s a condition I try to perfect. And yet it plagues me, it weighs on me in spite of my knowing it so well'

 

 

What do we know about solitude other than it brings endless peace and serenity into our mind and soul?. The peacefulness that is followed by a halo of light that makes you stick to your zone of silence. But not any silence, a special kind of silence where one is obliged to obey and live for oneself regardless of it all. It’s like signing a contract for a lifetime, and leaving is not an option.

 

We all love our solitude and peace of mind,  I know I do, because it’s a lifestyle of mine. But on the other side of the coin, we're surrounded  by people who might or might not understand this kind of lifestyle.  You can lecture them day and night, but still nothing will change. For they have a stubborn mindset in regards to what they’re doing, which also indicates that no one is right but them. It’s a long process of trying to convince someone about something they will never get and understand.  But there’s something we can do, and it’s giving them a copy of this book ..

 

Yes this book.

 

 

Whereabouts: By Jhumpra Lahiri, Is an exceptional short read that illustrates loneliness in all its phases. The good, the bad and the in between. And yes, as much as solitude is peaceful, it can sometimes have  uncontrollable influences that might be a bit too much to take and handle.  And at that point, one shall do nothing but accept the situation and flow through the waves. 

 

This book follows the story of a woman in her forties, who have managed to seek a life for herself outside of her city. Living and working for herself, by herself. She’s a solo rider in the waves known as life. Her life is marked and defined in silence. A silence that she came to enjoy at times, and other times she craved nothing but companionship. As she said 

'There are times I miss the pleasant shade a companion might provide'

 

 

With every page within this publication, readers will come to acknowledge the true meaning of being alone and living in solitude. Because like every other situation in life, there are aspects within this category of being away and far that makes one crave nothing but the presence of a physical being. All that will be explained throughout the pages, as every section is a narration of the leading character’s day and what she have encountered. Readers will follow her footsteps all along and feel the emotions sucking in their bodies.

  

The  book was written in a tone that resembled grief. A feeling and an emotion I would never want anyone to witness or even go through. It’s suffocating and nothing near fun. But because the author was brilliant enough in her descriptive skills of narrating every situation through the character’s voice, it felt like her emotions were ours. I personally felt every pain of hers, the loneliness, and the emptiness. All of it attached itself to me, and I to them .. 

 

But although grief was the tone of the writing and the ultimate emotion that accompanied  one all along the journey up to the final page, there were still short moments that lightened up one’s day and mood. Making us feel and know that solitude is not just about sadness and loneliness, its much more. its deep within us, its an emotion of being well and alive, by yourself and for yourself.

Our main character’s journey was based on wandering all around and ranting her feelings. She felt lonely all along and she craved the presence of someone. But midway, she came to a realization that what she has been feeling is true and genuine, but they don’t have to be like that all the time. Change could happen, because our emotions are based on how we handle them, and the way we allow our minds to perceive and receive. And that came in a very sincere incident that made her see things differently. Different in the form of a nudge from the mind, telling one “hey you’re not by yourself kiddo, look at those people around you”. And that’s exactly what happened, I won’t spoil the section but I’ll quote our main character when she said 

 

'But today I don’t feel even slightly alone. I hear the babble of people as they chatter, on and on. I’m amazed at our impulse to express ourselves, explain ourselves. Tell stories to one another .. '

 

 

And with that  final quote I will take my leave and give you space to think more about the book and the themes within. Which I know for sure will not only amaze you, but it will allow you to see things from different angles, such as the whole meaning behind solitude.  

Don’t be scared of your solitude, enjoy it and try your best to survive all the waves of life. And even when life hits you with a hammer, get up and and move on. Being alone is not the end of a life you once enjoyed. Rather, it's a journey of knowing and loving oneself. Far away from the destractions that can come along. Life is worth living, even the pain can be enjoyed. It’s all up to you, how you see it, feel it and make a thing of it .

 

 

 

 

Favorite quotes  from the Book!

 

 

-       I’m caught in the charade, I play a part in it, albeit as an extra .

 

-        We’re enfolded by the wide-open space, enclosed by all that emptiness.

 

-          I grow sad looking at all those brand-new suitcases, all of them empty, waiting for a traveler, waiting for various things to fill them, waiting for someplace to go.

 

-            She safeguarded me, she protected me from solitude as if it were a nightmare 

 

 

-           I feel sad as I laugh; I didn’t know love at her age.