If certain books are to be termed 'immigrant fiction,' what do we call the rest? Native fiction? Puritan fiction? This distinction doesn't agree with me.
Jhumpa LahiriRead
I feel that Italy's a country that's constantly looking out and constantly following what's happening in other cultural centers. What is being written in America, what is being published in England, what is being published in France. It's a culture that's always wanting to absorb and inform itself of other works, other writers, etc., etc.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Italy's culture is defined by its openness to influence from other nations.
This quote by Jhumpa Lahiri highlights Italy's cultural dynamism, emphasizing its engagement with global literary and artistic movements. It suggests that Italian culture is not insular but rather seeks inspiration and knowledge from other countries, showcasing its desire to evolve and enrich itself through external influences.
Themes
CultureInfluenceAbsorbLiteratureCreativity
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about cultural exchange, this quote can illustrate how Italy thrives on external influences.
More from Jhumpa Lahiri
All quotes →When I sit down to write, I don't think about writing about an idea or a given message. I just try to write a story which is hard enough.
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When I am experiencing a complex story or novel, the broader planes, and also details, tend to fall away.
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I think each time you start a story or novel or whatever, you are absolutely at the bottom of the ladder all over again. It doesn't matter what you've done before.
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The sky was different, without color, taut and unforgiving. But the water was the most unforgiving thing, nearly black at times, cold enough, I knew, to kill me, violent enough to break me apart. The waves were immense, battering rocky beaches without sand. The farther I went, the more desolate it became, more than any place I'd been, but for this very reason the landscape drew me, claimed me as nothing had in a long time.
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On the technical side, I hope that my writing is evolving and maturing, ripening, deepening.
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