Tag Archives: Lahiri

It’s funny, I’m mimicking Jhumpa Lahiri here in using the final post–in her case, final chapter–as a summary and wrap-up of the story. To be fair, I believe that yes, The Namesake likely (obviously) earned its place on the New … Continue reading →

Ohmigod, are you serious? Chapter 11 has established that Moushumi is having an affair, is traveling with God-knows-who, and Gogol, ignorant, slightly suspicious (because Lahiri once again lets us know this by using clothes as a tip-off, Moushumi has packed … Continue reading →

Aside from the train wreck that Ashoke suffered early on, his death, and that damned name of “Gogol” there’s been little real conflict in the book. That’s why I suspected by the discontented Moushumi at the anniversary meal, together with … Continue reading →

Here again, an event of some importance that could be used to round the characters, provide insight into the relationship, indicate change or motive, Gogol and Moushumi go out to dinner for their first anniversary. They’ve both dressed up for … Continue reading →

In Chapter 8, Gogol is set up with Moushumi and there’s quite a whirlwind affair. Lahiri at long last seems to have Gogol actually caring for someone. There is a quick escalation of the relationship and for some reason, we’re … Continue reading →

Here’s where I think Lahiri may falter, and where a more seasoned writer would have taken the story to a higher level: A year has passed since his father’s death. He still lives in New York, rents the apartment on … Continue reading →

Okay, so I’ve learned that this is not the book for which Jhumpa Lahiri won the Pulitzer Prize. I found this out by checking the cover again after puzzling over the last few pages of reading. It’s been made into … Continue reading →

Feels so good to be getting through a book more than a page or two at a time. Here I am at the end of Chapter 5 and I’ve noticed a few more things. The point of view is obviously … Continue reading →

This has happened to me before, where I decide that it’s time to make a statement on something going on in the story and so make up a post, then pick up the book and find my thoughts pretty much … Continue reading →

The concept of the novel is, again, the changes that a person goes through when being transplanted into a different culture, as are Ashima and Ashoke, or being raised between cultures, as is Gogol. The problem of his name, the … Continue reading →

Since the focus of this novel appears to be the conflict between tradition and acceptance of a new way of life for immigrants, I found this notion interesting: To predict his future path in life, Gogol is offered a plate … Continue reading →

This isn’t a very deep novel, there are no hidden meanings, no metaphors to pick up in delight. But it is a very intimate story of culture differences and the longing for traditions and values that can be transplanted but … Continue reading →

Thrilled that I finally got back into reading stories longer than flash fiction, and flush with success on Conrad’s short Heart of Darkness, I looked through my bookcases to find something that would be entertaining and fairly easy reading. I’ve … Continue reading →