Maw's favorite piece of literature was "A Temporary Matter," by Jhumpa Lahiri. It is a short story about a married couple who are plagued by the death of their baby during birth. Suffering from the tragedy, the couple chooses to alienate each other to avoid being reminded of their baby's death. During a series of electricity outage, the couple is forced to face each other as they eat dinner around a candle. The couple confesses what they have never told each other over the dinners. In the end, the woman reveals that she plans to move out, and they separate.
Maw liked this short story because of the cozy, homey atmosphere it creates, despite its distressing theme, as the author uses visual and direct words to illustrate the couples habits and customs. Maw was impacted by the strong nature of the female main character of the story, and it inspires Maw towards feminism. The three words Maw used to describe the story are: "secret," "isolation," and "simplicity." Her favorite line is the last sentence of the story, "They wept together, for the things they now knew." This line summarizes the feeling of exchanging secrets, and the resulting irreversible effects. Maw recommends "A Temporary Matter" to anyone who enjoys short stories.
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