Namesake, The
Lahiri, JhumpaGogol is named after his father's favourite author. But, growing up in an Indian family in suburban America, the boy starts to detest the awkward name and itches to cast it off, along with the inherited values it represents. Determined to live a life far removed from that of his parents, Gogol sets off on his own path, only to discover that the search for identity depends on much more than a name.
Comments from Groups
We loved this book. The 'eye of God' writing style meant that the simplicity of the language made for easy reading, while mainly interesting themes. It was a lovely statement on relationships and cultural identifier. Fernside 001 We all loved this book, finding it beautifully written, elegantly descriptive and very thought-provoking. It engendered much discussion on the pros and cons of trying to settle in a foreign country, and the difficulty of making a good transition whilst keeping hold of one's precious indigenous culture. Whitby 002 A nice read. A 'gentle' style of writing about ordinary lives. Tauranga 015 Storyline overdrawn - weak towards the end. Enjoyed the first half and good to learn of another culture's customs. Worth a read. Christchurch 257 We found it full of information and insight into difficulties of new immigrants...The characters were well drawn and the author managed somehow to generate great sympathy. Pahiatua 001
Pages
291
291
Year
2004
2004
Reviews
10-05-2023
Even though only a couple of people really liked the book, it did generate a lot of discussion as people tried to delve into the characters.
18-01-2021
Universally enjoyed by the group. Not considered good enough for the Pulitzer Prize, but immensely readable, with interesting characters and subject matter.
18-01-2021
The group felt that the narrative approach, switching between characters, was not completely successful. However, the book certainly stimulated a very wide ranging discussion on immigrant experiences.
18-01-2021
Our group had a clear division between those who loved the book and those who found it interesting, but didn't love it. The latter found it a bit slow and dispassionate, while the former enjoyed the incredible detail that led one into the lives of the characters. All agreed that the notes on the book were excellent and helped us understand it better. It certainly led us into a very lively discussion on migration, dislocation, parent/child relationships, identity, cultural responsibility, and of course, names.
18-01-2021
We all thoroughly enjoyed it. Great style of writing.
18-01-2021
We all loved this book. An Indian story with a modern American twist. A great insight to the integration of different cultures.
18-01-2021
Beautifully written but almost depressingly realistic! Really polarised our members. Some loved it, others thought it boring. Lots of debate!
18-01-2021
We all thought this was an interesting read - very relevant in today's society. Many of us have relocated into a different culture/society and could relate.