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Apr 19, 2009
Elizabeth (Alaska)
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Lahiri is very good, though I didn't care for this as much as her collections of short stories. Still, the length of this gave her an opportunity to say something not possible in the short story. It gave her the opportunity to more fully share the Bengali culture, to tell us more completely of the relationships between generations, to express the respect that comes in an arranged marriage in a way that does not occur in present day American marriages.
This book was also unsettling to the reader. ...more
This book was also unsettling to the reader. ...more
I wanted more from this book. More emotional connection, more depth of experience or analysis, more vulnerability from the characters. Something more.
The book tracks the experience of Gogol, a first-generation American born to Bengali immigrant parents. Told mostly from his perspective, the book narrates many of his experiences and memories, but it's all from a somewhat distant perspective with little dialogue and little present-tense action. I liked the characters, and some of the scenes were ...more
The book tracks the experience of Gogol, a first-generation American born to Bengali immigrant parents. Told mostly from his perspective, the book narrates many of his experiences and memories, but it's all from a somewhat distant perspective with little dialogue and little present-tense action. I liked the characters, and some of the scenes were ...more
The writing was rich with detail and life. I knew the characters deeply and the surroundings they inhabited. I felt sorry for Gogol who allowed his name to define him rather than, he defining it. It is interesting that though Gogol changed his name, the narrator when addressing him never acknowledges him as Nikhil and the reader never really takes on Nikhil, but remains with Gogol.
The family dynamic can always be tough, but it can be even more difficult for those whose parents grew up in a completely different environment. This book tells us all about it.
I really liked this one. The movie not as much. I finished it a while ago so I don't remember much now.
...more
This book is an amazing look into issues of culture and assimilation.
Nov 17, 2010
AyferS
marked it as to-read
Sep 19, 2011
Jane
marked it as to-read
Jan 15, 2012
Shin
marked it as to-read
Feb 23, 2015
Natalie
marked it as to-read
