Summary

In the section “The Conversations” Jhumpa is embarrassed because she is to interview a Roman writer but feels her Italian is insufficient to do the interview in that language. In 2004 Jhumpa’s husband brings her the phone number of a woman who teaches Italian. At the end of each of their hour sessions, Jhumpa’s tutor gives her a list of words she should know for their conversations. Jhumpa has trouble remembering them. At her next literary festival, however, she is able to exchange a few sentences in Italian. She returns to the metaphor of the lake. She can walk in deeper, but still has to keep her feet on the bottom.

In 2008 Jhumpa is invited to Italy again. She works with a different teacher in preparation. Even though the teacher tells Jhumpa she will be fine in Italy with...