The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which chronicles the life stories of a married couple from Calcutta who immigrate to the Eastern United States Boston area as well as the family that they create. It delves into a compromising of traditions with an emphasis on the strength of the family unit, the dedication of Ashima or the wife and mother to her husband Ashoke being very apparent. We see the characters change a bit but it is mainly a book which tells a story of interesting lives with an occasional music reference thrown in as well.
I want to emphasize that this book is an incredibly easy one to read and, although it explores the lives of the married Ganguli couple and their son Gogol Nikhil in depth, it remains unconvoluted and clear at all times what is going on. Not only is the story line easy to follow but it’s an interesting read and look into the Ganguli culture.
Throughout the years is the one thread that is woven into the fabric of the book and its words: the idea of the namesake. The importance of a name and the meaning of it is a predominant theme and much of the story line revolves around it. Gogol, who becomes the main protagonist in the later half of the book, lives almost two consecutive lives. First, he is Gogol and then later Nikhil. We see him experience life through both of these names as he grows from a young boy into a man in his early thirties.
There’s sadness and joy in this book and the real treat is experiencing it with these characters, who become easy to know and love.
(Now playing: Dominique A:La Memoire Nueve)