BOOK: The Namesake

AUTHOR: Jhumpa Lahiri

SUMMARY: This moving family drama is rich in culture and conflict. It is a search for identity. Born into an Indian family that has migrated to the U.S., the main character struggles between 2 cultures. The novel involves the typical expectations of immigrants for their children, but adds interesting twists. Given the name of a Russian author, Gogol Ganguli can never quite find his place. As the book progresses we realize the impact of his name on the boy. With humor and tender emotion, Lahiri explores the immigrant experience, clashes of cultures, challenges of assimilation and conflicting family loyalties. Motifs of names and trains enhance the story and Lahiri deftly uses food and clothing to explore cultural transitions. Our book club loved this thoughtful coming-of- age book, which evoked a prolonged discussion of the role names have played in our own lives. We concluded that, although Gogol was still in transition at the end of the novel, he appreciated how much his parents had sacrificed for both he and his sister.

PLOT: In 1968 Gogol is born in a Boston suburb. His parents have come from Calcutta, the product of an arranged marriage. His father, Ashoke, enters the academic world while his mother Ashima stays at home, missing her homeland and family immensely. Earlier in his life Ashoke survived a shattering train accident, convinced that a small volume of stories by Nikoli Gogol had saved his life. When their son is born, the Gangulis wait for a letter from India bestowing a formal name (bhalonam) as is their custom, and Ashoke gives the boy the "pet" name of "Gogol". A series of unfortunate event cause the boy's nickname to become his public name. Gogul suffers from his name, much more than his parents realize, finally changing it as an adult to better fit in as an American. This proves to be more of a problem than a solution. The author skillfully shares his education, romances and his urban Manhattan lifestyle with us. . His relationships with women are particularly poignant. We are taken to Calcutta and back to Massachusetts with picture perfect detail. These travels home are particularly hard for Gogul and his sister, who would much rather stay in the U.S. Gogol comments near the end of the book,"…his family life feels like a string of accidents, unforeseen, unintended, one incident begetting another."

ASK YOURSELF: What is Gogol running away from or to?

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