The Namesake

Amazing!

I began this book simply because my cousin said she loved it. I can now see why. It captivates the heart and soul. I was in tears by the end of the novel. Being an Indian raised in American, there was also a lot I could relate to and understand. An absolute must for your personal library!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Excellent Book!!

I started reading Jhumpa Lahiri in a college English course, starting with "Interpreter of Maladies." I enjoyed it so much that I couldn't wait till she wrote her next book which was this one, "The Namesake." It is an excellent book. It gives you a view into the world of another culture, and it also touches on some of the things that ethnic people deal with everyday in America; being different...having a different name, weird spelling to your name, having an accent, skin tone, dressing differently, trying to assimilate, etc. I totally recommend this book. She just came out with another book, also, so in total she has 3 published works.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

What's in a Name?

How does a writer follow up a Pulitzer Prize-winning debut? Jhumpa Lahiri, who at the age of 32 was awarded the coveted literary prize for her masterful story collection, Interpreter of Maladies, once again marvels readers with smooth and elegant prose in her novel, The Namesake. Jhumpa Lahiri clearly illustrates what it is to live an entire life in America, but still feel a bit out of place at times. Her stunning images of the elaborate feasts, the traditional clothing, and the ceremonial rites of the Indian culture make The Namesake a very rewarding and worthwhile reading experience.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

She never ceases to amaze me.

I don't know if it's because I'm a Bengali-American girl myself, but I find this book amazing. Lahiri's small details are perfect and at times I feel like I'm reading about my own life. I empathize with Gogol because I too have two names and at time feel like I'm two different people, one living a Bengali life and one living an American life. This book does a perfect job of capturing what it's like to be a second generation Bengali growing up in the US. Lahiri does a great job of making you feel the myriad of emotions that each of the characters, especially Gogol go through. I highly recommend this book to everyone, but especially to all the other ABCDs out there.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Would not recommend

This was an easy read but now that I have read it, I can honestly say I didn't enjoy this book. Would not recommend purchasing.

Had to read this for a class but i fell in love!

Very interesting book with many unexpected turns. I can picture every single scene while reading.

Do not read

Inappropriate

0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Great book

Im reading this novel for a global literature class and i am really enjoyimg it. Its well written and the plot is great. It really gives a great account of an Indian family adjusting to America during the 1970s. I would reccommend to anyome who enjoys a well written story. Definitely a quick easy read

didn't like it at all

what is the genre of this book?
and the "Overcoat" he is refering to in the book. Does anyone know that genre?

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Alright - wouldn't spend money on it

This book started off very slow, but towards the middle it got kind of interesting. I had to force myself to read it and stop counting the pages until I was finished. However, I would not recommend buying it if you are to purchase a book. It's not worth it. Buy something that's actually worth your time.

good plot...not so good execution of the plot

The story began well enough and I found myself emotionally invested in the lives of the young immigrant couple as they welcomed their first-born child, Gogol. However the story soon changed its focus from the parents to Gogol and that is where I lost interest in the story. It was difficult to feel emotionally invested in Gogol's life. This is because the book was at times too detailed (describing every last item visible in the room) and then at other not detailed enough (glossing over entire scenes such as when Gogol learns his wife has been cheating in the space of a paragraph). There were so many potential dramatic and moving moments in the book, but instead of creating gripping and climatic passages, these were delivered in a cold and factual way. I wanted to like the book, but I was so detatched from the main character that I could not. It was still an enjoyable read though, with a solid plot and good insight into the life of an immigrant family.

Highly recommended

She gives us a look ino Indian culture while keeping your interest. Great writer!

The Namesake- a must read novel!

The book, The Namesake, by Jhumpa Lahiri, begins as Ashoke and Ashima leave Calcutta and settle in New York City. Through a series of miscues, their son's nickname, Gogol (named after Russian author Nikolai Gogol), becomes his official birth name, an event which will shape many aspects of his life. Gogol's cross-cultural experiences and his exploration of his Indian heritage change, as the story shifts between the United States and India. Gogol eventually meets and falls in love with two women, Maxine and Moushumi, while his parents struggle to understand his modern, American perspectives on dating, marriage and love.

This book is a great book that can relate to many immigrants around the world. When people move to different countries and have children it is difficult for the parents to teach their children that their native culture is as important as the culture that they are living in now. Therefore this book is a great example of problems that can occur between parents and children when they move to a different country with a different culture. Moreover, this book was a really enjoyable book and I really recommend reading it.

Very Moving- A Great Read!

We were asked to read this for a literacy circle in Honors Social Studies, and everyone in the group enjoyed it. The book gets you hooked to see what will happen to Gogol next. Not only does it state Gogol's life and struggles, but his mother's well, both unique and made specifically for the characters. The dilemmas and struggles never seem to cease; they keep going only getting stronger near the end. The book seemed to lack a moral or point, but all in all the book was good, it was not boring, and it keeps you reading!

Mislead by reviews.

My friends and i read this book as a book group. We didn't like it because it was boring, had no climax, and wasn't very exciting. This book reminded us more of a documentary than a novel. As we were reading, we were expecting a climactic action, but there was none. Although we didn't enjoy the book, it gave us a good insight on Indian culture.

Excellent Read

I found this book very moving and interesting to read. The plot and character development were excellent.

fantastic

Everything about this book is amazing. The characters, the stories, the setting...it is such a touching story. I felt like I was reading about my family, the fights, the cultures, how I felt growing up...

She pulls you into the story and you feel what the characters are feeling. One of the best writers of our time.

Jhumpa Lahiri

This book is a classic. You will fall a bit in love with the characters.

Jumpa is a gifted writer!

Absolutely excellent writing. The struggle the characters have with being in America and embracing our culture, then reflecting back to their roots of India and that constant struggle really tugged at my emotions and heart.

Epitome of the American Dream

This book is for anyone who feels different or like a foreigner in any way, be it because of their name, religious practice, weight, age, class, etc. Other than an oddball name, I share no commonality with the protagonists of the book yet was very affected by each character's situation.

The author very slowly yet fluidly tells the story of this Bengali family uprooted and starting their lives in America. The ease of the writing spills the story out drop by drop, and before I knew it I was more than halfway through the book. My favorite part of the book was the subtle complexities throughout the stories: each narrator is Bengali yet they all have different fears, the arranged marriage is the strongest, etc. Books and authors such as this are important because they are very education, you can take a lot from it, and the story is fantastic.

This book was a real treat, a treasure that I recommend everyone to read.