Parents argue over who should take their kids to the toilet.

That's how it actually starts.
Interpreter of Maladies. From the first sentence one could form a conjecture that this story is about the maladies that can be associated with intense diarrhea. Luckily, for the classes around the world that read this story, assorted difficult poop experiences are not what make up the central plot. Instead, it delves into the complex emotions over that attraction offered by someone who you can relate to.

Jhumpa Lahiri, who I'm sure never got any crap in school for that name, weaves together a story in which Mr. Kapasi, a simpleminded tour guide from the heart of India, becomes quite intoxicated with the mother of one of the families in which he is guiding. TO say the least, any sort of relationship between them would brake the holy bond of tour guide and tourist. But O how he pines for her! And this "pining" is born mostly from her lack of connection to her husband and her interest in Mr. Kapasi. Mr. Kapasi, also uninterested in his wife, (both were matches made in Indian tradition) finds the witty and disconnected, even if slightly plump Mrs. Das to be something he covets.

My personal favorite scene was the Monkeys in the Trees. These goofy critters were fun... up until the point where they tried to eat the little boy. At that point the scene becomes not so funny as the little boy, who gave the monkey the stick in the first place, begins to be beaten by the very same monkey whom he gave the stick to. Ah, is there a greater tragedy then that of betrayal? I think not.

I would compare it to, perhaps, a father teaching his young son the basics of the great game of baseball. And the son, once handed the bat, starts beating his father with it, instead of trying to hit the ball. Tragic, to say the least.

Lastly, perhaps the most interesting interaction in this story, is that between Mrs. Das and Mr. Kapasi, which I personally have labeled, "The Great Confession." Here Mrs. Das spills her innermost feelings, secrets, and desires, to this nobody, this weekend tour guide, this Mr. Kapasi, only a translator in a doctor's office. It's intense, to say the least.

As i reflect on what I consider to be a fairly intense read, I can't stop myself from thinking, "though Mr. Kapasi's interest and feelings for Mrs. Das seem genuine and believable, the sudden exposure of Mrs. Das's feelings seems forced and not very believable. And that really ruined the story for me, because up until that point I had been thoroughly enjoying it.