The Namesake

by Jhumpa Lahiri

book data

40,893 ratings, 3.90 average rating, 4,257 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		26%
4		42%
3		24%
2		5%
1		0%

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published

December 2nd 2003 by Wheeler Publishing (first published September 1st 2002)

details

Hardcover, Large Print, 447 pages

characters

Ashoke Ganguli, Ashima Ganguli, Gogol/Nikhil Ganguli …more

setting

Cambridge, MA, 1968 (United States)

isbn

1587245167 (isbn13: 9781587245169)

description

A Pulitzer Prize-winning Author

The Namesake takes the Ganguli family from their tradition-bound life in Calcutta through their fraught transformation

…more

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Mar 11, 2008

Alicia rated it:

(review of isbn 0618485228)

recommended to Alicia by: my book club
recommends it for: someone with ADD maybe

I know that real authors who write real books are not the same as the people in my writing groups. I understand that real authors can break rules that would drive the average writing group up a wall. Still ... I wished someone, anyone, would have given this book a critical read before it was published and told the author to cut some of the endless exposition. I even wish someone would have used that old trope: "show, don't tell." I hate getting that advice from writing groups, but ...more

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Aug 17, 2007

Sandhya rated it:

(review of isbn 0006551807)

Read in August, 2007

It would only be fair to mention here that I saw Mira Nair's adaptation of the book before I actually got down to reading this novel recently. Having loved the film, I was keen to see how Lahiri had approached her characters and where its cinematic version stood in comparison.

I'll say two things. First, I feel this is one of the few times when the film more than does justice to the book and second, that the book itself is a deeply involving and affecting experience. In fa...more
It would only be fair to mention here that I saw Mira Nair's adaptation of the book before I actually got down to reading this novel recently. Having loved the film, I was keen to see how Lahiri had approached her characters and where its cinematic version stood in comparison.

I'll say two things. First, I feel this is one of the few times when the film more than does justice to the book and second, that the book itself is a deeply involving and affecting experience. In fact, so compassionate and compelling is the writer's understanding of her characters and their complexes, that the novel stays uniformly engaging till the very last page. Also, it helps that this is an extremely easy read and I for one, found myself going through it at a ravenous pace.

As a reader, one gets instantly drawn into the lives of young Ashima and Ashoke, who are a bundle of nerves in an alien country, far from adoring relatives and friends in Calcutta. The writer's description of how the couple grapples with the ways of a new world yet tightly holding on to their roots is deeply moving and rings true at every point.

When a letter from their grandmother in India, enclosing the name for their first born doesn't arrive in time, Ashoke instinctively and naively (as their son says later in life) names him Gogol- a name, derived from the Russian author, Nikolai Gogol, with whom the latter feels a deep connection. The name comes to embarrass their son as he grows older and is a reminder of his confused being -it's not even a proper Bengali name, he protests!

Gogol's agony is not so much about being born to Indian parents, as much as being saddled with a name that seems to convey nothing, in a way accentuating his feeling of "not really belonging to anything"
After much internal struggle, he changes his name to a more acceptable Indian name, Nikhil and feels it would enable him to face the world more confidently.

But for me personally, the best part of the novel was Gogol's marriage to his childhood family friend Maushami Muzumdar. The latter is far from a conventional Bengali girl and Gogol is attracted to her individualistic streak and high living. In many ways, Maushami bridges a certain important gap in his mind and presents to him the best of both worlds --- she's Bengali like him, so in a strange way that's a comforting feeling. At the same time, she displays the same excessive, broadminded living of the Americans.

However, the fact that this relationship collapses and leaves no mark in their individual lives whatsoever, is also a telling statement about how, ultimately, coming from a similar background provides no guarantee for marital success. On the other hand, his sister Sonia's marriage to an American proves to be quite blissful.

I've presented only an abridged version of my review but those with inclination to read further can see it my blog; www.sandyi.blogspot.com (less)

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Aug 16, 2007

Waqar rated it:

(review of isbn 0618485228)

Read in June, 2007

recommends it for: culturally confused people, especially those from the subcontinent

This is yet another teary installation in the growing collection of books about and by the Indian diaspora, each of which competes with the others in the portrayal of the romantic nostalgia the main characters (Indians settled in the West) invariably feel towards their forsaken homeland, the clash of cultures they experience as they try to build a life in the West, and the inevitable dreariness of this life spent seemingly by necessity, not choice, in a land and culture that remain permanently ...more

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Jul 08, 2007

Anna rated it:

(review of isbn 0618485228)

bookshelves: indian-lit

Read in December, 2006

After finishing the Namesake, my thoughts were drawn to my last roommate in college, an Indian woman studying for her PHD in Psychology. When I first moved in, she had just broken up with her white boyfriend. “It never would have worked out anyway…” she had cried. By the end of that same year she was flying of to Houston to be wed to a man she had only seen once, a marriage arranged by their parents. Many nights my other roommate (an exchange student from Berlin) and I would sit out on the...more

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Jun 04, 2007

Davis rated it:

(review of isbn 0618485228)

bookshelves: fiction

Read in June, 2007

recommends it for: ...

I must make two confessions before I delve into a proper review of this book:

1. I saw the movie adaptation of this novel before I read the book.
2. I have read, and loved, Interpreter of Maladies.

As much as I tried to put these two substantial forces out of my mind, they were inevitably the lens through which I understood The Namesake. While I unfortunately began this book knowing the plot, I also knew that Lahiri's prose is among the best I've ever read. Her sho...more I must make two confessions before I delve into a proper review of this book:

1. I saw the movie adaptation of this novel before I read the book.
2. I have read, and loved, Interpreter of Maladies.

As much as I tried to put these two substantial forces out of my mind, they were inevitably the lens through which I understood The Namesake. While I unfortunately began this book knowing the plot, I also knew that Lahiri's prose is among the best I've ever read. Her short stories are nearly flawless, and each individual piece offers a profound view of the complex world of her characters.

The narration of the novel is true to Lahini's form-- effortless, smooth, subtle and richly detailed. The plot, however, feels stretched thin; nothing extraordinary occurs in Gogol's life, outside of the death of his father. In fact, this novel was quite a departure from Lahiri's earlier work in Interpreter of Maladies in that Gogol is so unconflicted, so thoroughly American as to seek to overcome his parent's attempts to instill in him the values they've retained from their way of life in India. Instead, he immerses himself in the country of his birth, adopting himself into the most American way of life that Lahiri can imagine for him.

The Ratliffs represent, in my opinion, an example of the execesses that most likely represent the American way of life to outsiders. This is a life full of dinner parties, lots of wine, summer-long vacations from work, shopping, etc, and is meant to provide a contrast to Gogol's modest upbringing. Only the unsettling death of his father can bring Gogol to realize that he will never find a true home here.

Even more unsettling was Gogol's relationship with Moushumi. Despite that she comes from a similar foundation as Gogol himself, this character lived in profusion of wealth and personal riches, including a fancy apartment (for a student? with immigrant parents?) beautiful clothing and trips to Paris. Despite their parent's initial glee upon their marriage, Moushumi's inability to maintain a marriage with a man of similar decent becomes their undoing. After all of this, I only ask, what is the point? What is to be learned from this?

Those two questions were inevitably all that remained for me at the conclusion of the novel. We are, at the novel's close, to believe that Gogol has returned home by reading his long-forgotten short stories of Nikolai Gogol. Somehow, all of Nikhil's cavorting is to be forgiven upon his acceptance of his "real" name. True introspection regarding Gogol's origins had been cast aside by Gogol himself, and so the conclusion of the book seems hasty.

While Lahiri's prose was excellent thoughout, and her musings on what's-in-a-name (something that I, as a Davis, will never tire of) were interesting, I found this novel, overall, to be only mildly worthy of short story material, but not at all worthy of a 200+ page novel. (less)

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Oct 13, 2007

Emma rated it:

(review of isbn 0618485228)

Read in October, 2007

You've heard this story before. Junot Diaz, Julia Alvarez, Anzia Yezierska, and Edwidge Danticat are just a few of the authors who have told their own versions. The story they all have in common: The immigrant experience in the United States. Each of the above authors tackles this subject from a different enthnographic perspective, but the pull between the old (native) culture and the new (immigrant) one is always present.

Pulitzer prize winning author Jhumpa Lahiri adds to this conve...more You've heard this story before. Junot Diaz, Julia Alvarez, Anzia Yezierska, and Edwidge Danticat are just a few of the authors who have told their own versions. The story they all have in common: The immigrant experience in the United States. Each of the above authors tackles this subject from a different enthnographic perspective, but the pull between the old (native) culture and the new (immigrant) one is always present.

Pulitzer prize winning author Jhumpa Lahiri adds to this conversation with "The Namesake" (her first novel which was a follow up to her short story collection "Interpreter of Maladies" which won the Pulitzer): the epic story of the Ganguli family's arrival and assimilation into the world of the United States.

The story begins when Ashoke and his wife (of an arranged marriage), Ashima, come to Massachusetts where Ashoke is a graduate student at MIT. The year is 1968. At the beginning of the novel Ashima is pregnant with her first child, a son.

In Bengali culture, it is common for people to have a formal name and a pet name (nickname). Ashoke has no problem coming up with a nickname for their son: Gogol. Unfortunately, due to a variety of mishaps and misunderstandings, the formal name proves harder to settle on and even harder to enforce. So Gogol Ganguli grows up with only a pet name--one that is not American, or Indian, or a first name.

No one really cares that Gogol's name is so unique, except Gogol whose anxiety over his name is bothersome enough that no external taunts are necessary. Gogol eventually resolves to rename himself, but not after learning the life-changing story that inspired his father give Gogol his name in the first place.

Despite the vast period Lahiri writes about, the novel's focus remains narrowly focused on the characters, especially Ashima and her son. Despite the authenticity that Lahiri brings to her main characters, certain scenes remain naggingly artificial--feeling simultaneously improbable and contrived.

Lahiri's writing here (I've yet to read her short stories) is beautiful without being pretentious or overly self-aware. The story feels authentic and compelling despite the fact that so many of the cultural references remain worlds away.

Even more interesting is the fact that I enjoyed almost the entire novel despite having a strong dislike of Gogol and several of the secondary characters. (I'd say more about what this means in terms of the writing style/skill but I still haven't figured out how that happened.) Despite my misgivings throughout the novel, Gogol does work toward redeeming himself by the end of the story.

Regardless of my nitpicks, "The Namesake" remains a must for anyone interested in the immigrant experience in America. Lahiri's narrative hearkens back to Jeffrey Eugenides' "Middlesex" which has a similar scope, tracing three generation's relationship with Detroit.

"The Namesake" deals with common themes but, as any good book should, Lahiri makes these subjects new and original with her unique characters and wonderful writing.
(less)

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Oct 24, 2007

Meredith rated it:

(review of isbn 0618485228)

Read in January, 2006

2.5/5
This book is a family saga from the initial immigration of a wife and husband from India to The States which goes on to talk about the life of their son. Their son, Gogol, appears to be confused as to what his identity is and is conflicted over honoring tradition and the culture of a new world. This book is somewhat entertaining and interesting, but really did not leave any profound marks. Most of the book is light and almost reads like a soap opera at times (going from one meaningl...more

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Aug 10, 2007

rachel rated it:

(review of isbn 0618485228)

bookshelves: recommended

Read in May, 2004

recommended to rachel by: author loyalty
recommends it for: anyone looking for a fabulous, new author to follow

the perfect follow-up to her short story collection, lahiri's "the namesake" follows the story of gogol and enraptures the reader as they struggle with him to come to terms with his indian-american identity. as in "interpreter of maladies", lahiri's writing is descriptive and poetic, and her story is layered with character and emotion. after reading "the namesake", i became an absolute lahiri worshiper and am happy to admit that i have been placed under her saffr...more

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Sep 30, 2008

Rachel rated it:

(review of isbn 0618485228)

bookshelves: fiction

I came into this book figuring that I would like it, and I was not disappointed in the least. I took the book to work this week and spent my entire lunch hour on just one chapter, pouring over the exquisite descriptions of each scene exposited upon and the flow of the narration. I especially admire how Jhumpa, who covered decades in less than 300 pages, knew exactly which scenes to center on, and which to let roll by.

Not that this is overly important, but I found that the movie was...more

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Jun 06, 2008

Ally rated it:

(review of isbn 0618485228)

Read in June, 2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

The Namesake
Judul Indonesia: Makna Sebuah Nama
Penulis: Jhumpa Lahiri
Alih Bahasa: Gita Yuliani K.
Penerbit: PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama
Cetakan: I, Agustus 2006
Tebal: 336 hlm

What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."
Kutipan terkenal dari karya Shakespeare inilah yang pertama terlintas ketika membaca judul buku. Saya tidak pernah setuju dengan semua kata-kata itu. Karena saya yakin didalam s...more

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Feb 14, 2008

Yumi rated it:

(review of isbn 0618485228)

bookshelves: masters-exams-list-two

a disclaimer: i didnt like the movie.

lahiris brilliant ability to keep all of the various narratives flowing smoothly, to capture the nuances of immigrant life, to portray the absolute difficulty of living one life in front of friends, and one of life in front of parents, shielded a very matter-of-fact part of this book that i missed until i saw the film.

dude, gogol is an asshole.

and i dont mean in that, im trying to find my way kind of naivete; i mean he g...more

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May 31, 2008

Jeff rated it:

(review of isbn 0618485228)

Read in May, 2008

I'd read a few of Lahiri's short stories, and had seen the movie of The Namesake, but I put off reading it for a while.
It's definitely a worthwhile read. I gave it five stars, not because it's the greatest book I've ever read, but because it was the right book for me to read right now--there's something about where I am in my life that makes Gogol Ganguli's story resonate with me in a way that it probably wouldn't have when the book was first published.
Lahiri has a gift for captur...more

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Jan 27, 2009

Roossy rated it:

(review of isbn 0618485228)

Read in January, 2009

Namesake was the story of Bengali’s family who had to face cultural differences in their life. Gogol, the main character of the story, was born in Boston. He was named after the Russian author, Nikolai Gogol. Gogol’s father was a big fan of Russian’s literatures and survived because of Nikolai’s book from a train accident in India. When Gogol was born, his parents wanted to wait to name him as the naming letter from Gogol’s great grandmother was delayed. However, the letter was lost ...more Namesake was the story of Bengali’s family who had to face cultural differences in their life. Gogol, the main character of the story, was born in Boston. He was named after the Russian author, Nikolai Gogol. Gogol’s father was a big fan of Russian’s literatures and survived because of Nikolai’s book from a train accident in India. When Gogol was born, his parents wanted to wait to name him as the naming letter from Gogol’s great grandmother was delayed. However, the letter was lost and he was stuck with Gogol. Eventually his parents gave him a good name, Nikhil. He was comfortable being a Gogol until he went to college and changed it legally to Nikhil.
The story continued to tell us about his life in the college, girls he met and broke his heart, his defiance against his parents to always go home for Christmas and Thanksgiving. The last part of the book was about his sadness from losing his father from heart attack and his happiness from his marriage life to a Bengali’s that became a failure after he found out that his wife was cheating on him.
I finished Namesake within 2 days, which was a record as I only read before bedtime.
I felt for these characters, especially the mother who was come to Boston without knowing anyone except the husband. How she had to adjust to American life for the sake of her children and eventually had to survive alone when her husband passed. As I doze off to sleep I kept thinking about the Namesake. The questions started to fill up my mind; Will Amanda feel foreign in our homeland the next time we go home? Will Amanda rejected to be with us for Thanksgiving and Christmas when she is in college?
Bringing up children in a foreign country will always be a challenge to all parents. Even though we, as parents can pass our cultures, eventually the local culture and moral will take over it.
My only hope for this moment is that Amanda will always looking forward to go home to Indonesia and Singapore and feel at home there.

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Mar 07, 2009

Kate rated it:

(review of isbn 0618485228)

bookshelves: fiction

I liked the first 40 pages or so. I was very interested in the scenes in India and the way the characters perceived the U.S. after they moved. Bu soon I found myself losing interest. There were several problems. One is that Lahiri's novelistic style feels more like summary ("this happened, then this, then this) rather than a story I can experience through scenes. The voice was flat, and this was exacerbated by the fact that it's written in present tense. I never emotionally connected t...more

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Apr 27, 2009

Annalisa rated it:

(review of isbn 0739341367)

bookshelves: audiobook, literary, movies

Read in May, 2009

The prose in this book is beautiful. What also added to the novel was listening to the Indian-accented dialogue on the audio form. Normally I don't like female readers and where the main character is male it seems a train wreck waiting to happen. But where Gogle is so introspective, her quiet take on a quiet read was the perfect match.

For me, this book was more than anything about finding out who we are and where we belong in life. When you throw culture displacement into the mix, yo...more The prose in this book is beautiful. What also added to the novel was listening to the Indian-accented dialogue on the audio form. Normally I don't like female readers and where the main character is male it seems a train wreck waiting to happen. But where Gogle is so introspective, her quiet take on a quiet read was the perfect match.

For me, this book was more than anything about finding out who we are and where we belong in life. When you throw culture displacement into the mix, you find that you don't really belong anywhere. Ashima and Ashoke are Indian-born living in New England and trying to hold onto the culture and language that defines them and ties them back to the families they so rarely see. But for as complex as their inability to find roots is, the problem is compounded in the next generation. Gogle looks Indian and can speak (but not write) his native tongue, but his culture is true-blood American. When he visits his relatives in Calcutta, he feels out of place, but when he dates Maxine whose roots go back to deep New York money, he doesn't fit there either and wants to keep his relationship with her separate from his Indian culture and relatives, something that just can't work. Gogle is constantly keeping his parents and culture at bay because he is not yet ready to embrace their world when he does not feel inundated in American culture enough. Even his marriage with another American-born Indian feels out of place when their bond is centered on this mutual out-of-place feeling; what they both are looking for is somewhere they belong.

This double nature is beautifully analogized with the tradition of a pet name and good name in India. Babies are given nicknames at birth and sometimes not even given an official name until documents are required for school. Lost in this new country they do not quite comprehend Ashoke and Ashima put their son's pet name on his birth certificate and without quite explaining the tradition to him, try to enroll him in school wtih his good name Nikhil. In the confusion the poor boy grows up with a goofy name until he is old enough to officially change his name. But just like he can't shed his Indian background, he can never quite become Nikhil, abolishing Gogle to his past. Instead he must come to appreciate both names (and cultures) without ever fully becoming one.

There were times I wish Lahiri had delved further into the relationships, but overall the emptiness of the interactions is in someways the appeal of the book.(less)

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Mar 01, 2009

Kaitlynn rated it:

(review of isbn 0618485228)

I read this book for my English class and I really enjoyed it. I was able to see more into the Indian culture, which is very interesting. The thing that i did not like about it was how whenever a new character or surrounding was introduced she went on for a while describing every last detail. I heard her short stories are really good, and in a short story she would not have time to do this, so I may read some of those. The movie that was made after the book is also really good, it leaves a l...more

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Jan 07, 2009

Mary Jo rated it:

(review of isbn 0618485228)

I liked this book but for some reason it left a weird sensation while I read it, like the main character, Gogol/Nikhil, was just walking around most of his life in a daze and it left me feeling like I was walking with him in that daze. (Maybe that's what the author intended?) His parents were both born in India and move to the US and Gogol was born there. Although he lead mostly a very Americanized life, I felt like he was struggling throughout most of it, mostly because of his name and not beca...more

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Oct 27, 2008

Loren B rated it:

(review of isbn 0618485228)

Loren Brutsch
Mrs. Ebarvia
World Lit.
10/20/08
The Namesake
Draft
Jhumpa Lahiri’s emotional, compassionate story called The Namesake explains journey through life and the obstacles that thwart it. Lahiri is an excellent author and has also created Interpreter of Madalies and Unaccustomed Earth. The story follows the life of an artistic, passionate, ignorant Indian boy named Gogol, whom is given a Russian author’s name for covert reasons. He spends his life asha...more Loren Brutsch
Mrs. Ebarvia
World Lit.
10/20/08
The Namesake
Draft
Jhumpa Lahiri’s emotional, compassionate story called The Namesake explains journey through life and the obstacles that thwart it. Lahiri is an excellent author and has also created Interpreter of Madalies and Unaccustomed Earth. The story follows the life of an artistic, passionate, ignorant Indian boy named Gogol, whom is given a Russian author’s name for covert reasons. He spends his life ashamed of his heritage and disgraceful name and feels as though it is the only thing standing in his way of leading a normal American life. It is not until long after his father’s death and he has developed a family of his own, does he finally accept his name and the passion behind it.
The gentle narrative voice was unique and powerful. Jhumpa Lahiri tells the story in a distinctive way that moves the novel along and keeps you entertained. Also the characters were realistic and made you feel as if you grew up with them. The story’s narrative switches between the Ganguli family and Gogol’s sweethearts throughout the story, giving you all views on the situations at hand. Gogol Ganguli grows up and develops like any other man in the world, giving you the feeling that he is an existing human being and not just a fictional character in a beautifully written novel.
Though the novel was creative and well written, people could form the opinion that it was too realistic. Gogol Ganguli is an average Indian man who grows up in America, and besides his name, leads and ordinary life. Jhumpa Lahiri could have added more dramatic events or characters in Gogol’s life, to make the story more interesting. The story is fictional so anything was possible. Lahiri could have expanded her views and made more perilous consequences or something less practical happen to Gogol or his family to interest the reader.
Although the story had its weaknesses, it was still captivating and extremely well written by Lahiri. Readers with a passion for culture, obstacles, and delicate yet powerful novels will enjoy this story to the fullest. The Namesake was spectacular and will be loved by anyone with the love for heritage and experiences that make us who we are.

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Jun 16, 2008

Kim Williams rated it:

(review of isbn 0618485228)

bookshelves: current-works

Read in June, 2008

recommends it for: all

This book was an incredible read. From the first word, the exquisite narration draws you into the lives of the characters. It was thought provoking, inviting the reader to examine his/her own sense of identity and how this changes over time often due to circumstances greater than us. The accidents of life are what shape us into who we are.
The Namesake is a tale of conflict between the past and the present, the old world and the new. It gives a clear picture of the concessions tha...more This book was an incredible read. From the first word, the exquisite narration draws you into the lives of the characters. It was thought provoking, inviting the reader to examine his/her own sense of identity and how this changes over time often due to circumstances greater than us. The accidents of life are what shape us into who we are.
The Namesake is a tale of conflict between the past and the present, the old world and the new. It gives a clear picture of the concessions that become necessary for immigrants coming to our shores. Many of the old country traditions either do not exist at all or must be modified within a community of others of your particular background. In this particular case, the family is of Indian background, but one can easily see their struggle as one most immigrants would face. There is a desire to preserve as much as can be saved of the traditions and norms with which one has been raised and often a battle to prevent excessive Americanization particularly in the next generation. The story of the Ganguli family illustrates this conflict through the theme of names.
Even at the outset, we learn that names have a special significance in Bengali culture. The wife has not ever spoken her husband's name. It is as a sacred word that is not to be uttered. The name they are to give their son, born in this new country far from the large family that should be present at such a momentous event, is also important. We learn of the existence of two names that are traditionally given; one a pet name, used only by family, and the other a good name for identification in the outside world. Several accidents of fate lead to the naming of their first born son and becomes known by this temporary, pet name. His further assimilation and break from tradition is also illustrated through his name as he decides to legally change it. Even so, the old name is still used at home, tethering him to the old ways. As often happens in reality, it takes a loss or other catastrophic event to make one look back and examine their roots more closely.
I don't wish to give away any more details so I will simply state that this book is at its core about identity. It is always a struggle in life to decide who you are and what you represent. This book gives us an intimate portrait of how that struggle is magnified for immigrants as they try to hold on to the past while living in the present. (less)

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Apr 29, 2008

Holli rated it:

(review of isbn 0618485228)

I listened to this one on tape and really enjoyed the performance by Sarita Choudhury. I like the way Lahiri shifts tone when she shifts point of view. When we see the story from Ashima's point of view, the tone is restrained, timid, almost veiled. When the point of view shifts to Gogol, the tone becomes more forthright and a little angry. Overall, the book has a refined feeling to it. Even though the characters are trying to make their way in this culture and in this life, they maintain...more I listened to this one on tape and really enjoyed the performance by Sarita Choudhury. I like the way Lahiri shifts tone when she shifts point of view. When we see the story from Ashima's point of view, the tone is restrained, timid, almost veiled. When the point of view shifts to Gogol, the tone becomes more forthright and a little angry. Overall, the book has a refined feeling to it. Even though the characters are trying to make their way in this culture and in this life, they maintain their dignity and respect for one another.--hr

Amazon.com
Any talk of The Namesake--Jhumpa Lahiri's follow-up to her Pulitzer Prize-winning debut, Interpreter of Maladies--must begin with a name: Gogol Ganguli. Born to an Indian academic and his wife, Gogol is afflicted from birth with a name that is neither Indian nor American nor even really a first name at all. He is given the name by his father who, before he came to America to study at MIT, was almost killed in a train wreck in India. Rescuers caught sight of the volume of Nikolai Gogol's short stories that he held, and hauled him from the train. Ashoke gives his American-born son the name as a kind of placeholder, and the awkward thing sticks.
Awkwardness is Gogol's birthright. He grows up a bright American boy, goes to Yale, has pretty girlfriends, becomes a successful architect, but like many second-generation immigrants, he can never quite find his place in the world. There's a lovely section where he dates a wealthy, cultured young Manhattan woman who lives with her charming parents. They fold Gogol into their easy, elegant life, but even here he can find no peace and he breaks off the relationship. His mother finally sets him up on a blind date with the daughter of a Bengali friend, and Gogol thinks he has found his match. Moushumi, like Gogol, is at odds with the Indian-American world she inhabits. She has found, however, a circuitous escape: "At Brown, her rebellion had been academic ... she'd pursued a double major in French. Immersing herself in a third language, a third culture, had been her refuge--she approached French, unlike things American or Indian, without guilt, or misgiving, or expectation of any kind." Lahiri documents these quiet rebellions and random longings with great sensitivity. There's no cleverness or showing-off in The Namesake, just beautifully confident storytelling. Gogol's story is neither comedy nor tragedy; it's simply that ordinary, hard-to-get-down-on-paper commodity: real life. --Claire Dederer
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