The Namesake: A Novel
by Jhumpa Lahiri
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Book Reviews of The Namesake: A Novel
Book Review: Elegant Prose, Not Just For Women
Summary: 4 Stars
Jhumpa Lahiri offers an authentic view into the worlds of Cambridge, Boston, New Haven and New York City, as seen through the eyes of Bengali immigrants and their American-born sons and daughters. This is a story of assimilation; of the turning away from the customs and values of ones homeland, and ones parents, and accepting ones American heritage, whether via birthright or adoption.
Lahiri's point of vew shifts through the course of her novel, from one member of the Ganguli family to another; first Ashoke and Ashima, Bengali husband and wife, respectively, then to Gogol--their son, the eponymous "namesake." This shifting feels natural enough, though not necessarily motivated by the story arc; Gogol's little sister, Sonia, never enters the fray, leaving this reader slightly disappointed and wondering over her purpose as a character.
Mid-novel, Gogol assumes the true focus of this story, and later still his wife, Moushimi, has her moments in the spotlight--though her episodes feel less authentic, her motives too desperate, too American for her to be truly a Ganguli. Indeed, Moushimi proves herself as unworthy as the previous captors of Gogol's heart, though she's the only Bengali among them.
Gogol develops identity issues as a child. He hates his name and resents his heritage. He wishes to reinvent himself, and the first step takes place at Yale, where he's changed his name. Later, in New York, he becomes strongly tied to the women he takes up with, in a fashion assuming their identities, or facsimilies thereof--the reults never quite satisfy poor Gogol, who in the end returns to his own homeland, his original identity.
I first became enthralled with Lahiri via "Gogol," which appeared in "The New Yorker" some time ago. Clearly, the excerpt was lovingly crafted by the fine editors there. And while "The Namesake" may not always read as breathtakingly, and may in fact plod in some places, one is left with the feeling of having been somewhere, of having assumed another's identity, even one as complicated as Gogol's.
*Final note: though written by a woman, this is a story about men, for men. Grisham and Clancy fans may not agree, but male readers of literary fiction will enjoy this novel. -bpf
Book Review: (3.5): A Solid Novel-Debut
Summary: 3 Stars
As many have already attested to, "The Interpreter of Maladies," Lahiri's true fictional debut is something so wonderful that everyone was eagerly anticipating her next venture, regardless of what form it took. Suffice it to say this novel did not dissapoint, but may not have lived up to what people were hoping for. I should preface the rest of what I'm writing by saying I started reading this after finishing Wallace's "Infinite Jest," so in terms of clarity I may be overestimating what Lahiri has written.
Let me begin by saying that I'm normally not a fan of trans-culturation tales because I find it is hard to write a great story while not becoming too mired in problems concerning assimilation. Julia Alvarez is a master at it, but many have tried and failed miserably. Lahiri does a solid job of following the Ganguli family and their assimilation into American culture, one that really only crystallizes with the birth of Gogol and Sonia, the two Ganguli children. Lahiri deftly weaves together the lives of these characters, balancing important perspective shifts and temporal ones so that we can see the ups and downs of the family. The multiple deaths surrounding the characters are done with little melodrama and instead weave themselves into a somewhat sobering and realistic portrayal of loss. I simply loved the use of simple and straight-forward prose and narrative represenation (again, it may just be a result of reading David Foster Wallace right before) and one can simply get through this book effortlessly in a few nights. So much happens in the text and you can literally feel yourself move through the lives of these characters. Lahiri also shows her talent for tying up her storylines and continuing threads throughout by using the title and the idea of Gogol's naming as well as the act of naming as an integral part of the text.
Somehow, for all the praise I have for the text, there is simply something missing. Something that causes me to look at the text and think, as good as it is, there's nothing spectacular going on and that she somehow has not as of yet lived up to her promise. It's an enjoyable tale that is missing that something extra that differentiates good novels from great ones.
Book Review: What's in a name?
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an elegant, descriptive, charming study of the struggle for personal and cultural identity for a young Bengali man, from his birth to his thirtieth birthday.
"Stuck" with a name he feels hard to understand or to explain, Gogol Ganguli is the somewhat gifted offspring of a first-generation couple from Calcutta. Through and arranged marriage and another arranged scholarship, Gogol's parents find themselves the parents of a son in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1971. Struggling for a name that will allow the couple some sense of cultural identity and independence in this vast, cold, western country, Gogol's dad reaches into his past to informally name his son, thinking that they will have a chance to give him a more formal name at a less stressful, later time. But that is not to be.
The family adds a daughter, the son prospers well enough to attend Yale, and the children slowly reject many of the ways of their parents, assimilating rather than embracing American culture as their own. The parents move the family to the suburbs; the son goes off to college and then to graduate school in New York, accumulating one significant romantic episode. In New York, Gogol experiences the rich texture of American economic and social elitism, easily falling in with an upscale crowd and a glamorous new flame. Tragedy kills that relationship but allows Gogol to move on with his life for perhaps one last chance at love. Again, Gogol falls in quickly with a gorgeous woman. Let's not spoil the ending other than to say it is not implausible, predictable or unpleasant.
Without simplifying the obvious, Lahiri writes very, very well. The words, images, scenes, thoughts and episodes flow smoothly, with color and clarity. The book draws in the reader, brings a smile to your face, and adds a warm sense of acknowledgement as to the authenticity of characters and the culture. The reader experiences Boston, New Hampshire, Manhattan and Brooklyn and Calcutta in enjoyable detail. The Russian connection adds a point of revelation for Gogol when he learns the origin of his name as well as third dimension to the rich palate, as does Lahiri's attention to food, taste, color, temperature, trains, and seasons.
Book Review: Wonderful! Couldn't put it down!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have learned not to read these reviews before I actually read a book because with everything out there, either you love it or you hate it. There is really nothing in between and I like to form my own opinions on things. So-all of that being said, I know that there are people out there that read the reviews and based on others opinions of the story, choose to read the book or not, so here is my opinion-I LOVED IT! I read for a living. I'm a librarian, and I can tell you that this is one of the best books that I have read in a long time! I couldn't put it down. Lahiri is wonderful with words. Her descriptions where beautiful. I love to read a book and feel that I am a part of the story, like I am sitting in with the charcters watching what is happening, and I can say that I felt this way with her story.
I have read other reviews on this book, and people seem to be very critical of Gogol and his struggle with his name. I can only imagine that being a the first generation born in a country and culture that is not your parents, can cause confussion and a need to want to fit in. And a name is a big deal! It's almost as if it can define you to others. When naming your child, you wouldn't want to name them something that you know will get them tormented on the playground would you? And Gogol wasn't teased by others because of his name, but he didn't feel that he fit. He didn't fit with Bengali people and he didn't fit with Americans either. This caused an inner struggle that affected him for years, even after he was married and no one, except for his wife, knew that he had changed his name. And if you read the book, remember when it comes out? The people at the dinner party were shocked, and again Gogol felt as if he didn't fit.
Of course, as with all (well most) stories, everything comes full circle and Gogol learns (and begins to appreciate) why he was given that name, and he makes peace with it.
Lahiri wrote and incredible book about love, family, tolerance, growing, multiculturalism and life. As I mentioned, I had a really hard time putting this book down, and would recommend it to anyone that has an interest in cultural studies, literature or a good read!
Book Review: Perfect!
Summary: 5 Stars
THE NAMESAKE by Jhumpa Lahiri
March 10, 2007
Rating ***** (5 Stars)
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri's THE NAMESAKE is the tale of immigrants who come from India and raise their family in America, a country they adopt, all the while keeping their own traditions intact. "The Namesake" refers to Gogol, their first born, who grows up at first accepting his name, but later rejecting it to the point where he changes it legally as an adult. Gogol's name represents his father's hopes for a bright future, stemming from a massive train wreck that Gogol's father survived. A turning point in Ashoke Ganguli's life, it is this tragedy that shapes his future family's life, taking him to America and a few years later, bringing back with him to this foreign land his new wife Ashima.
While the book starts with Ashoke and Ashima's early life, it is really Gogol that becomes the main focus as he grows up as an American, but is constantly reminded that he is of Indian descent, thus in some ways setting him apart from his peers. But as an adult, he makes it clear that he rejects his name and his family ways as he renames himself Nikhil, (Russian author Gogol's first name), and rarely sees his family, as he says he's too busy with work.
What really is occupying Gogol's time and thoughts are his girlfriend Max (Maxine) and her family, spending weekends with them in the country, and living with them during the week. His parents know nothing about them for quite a long time, and he wants it that way. Gogol does his best to keep his family separate from his new life as Nikhil.
THE NAMESAKE I felt was the perfectly written book, a story which encompassed the immigrant experience from the first generation (Ashoke and Ashima) and the second (Gogol and his sister Sonia). By the end of the book, Gogol will truly begin to understand his father, his family background, and the importance of his name. But it takes several decades before Gogol reaches that point in his life. I felt the book was perfect from beginning to end, and will most likely put this book in my top 5 books read for 2007.