Book Review: Namesake
Namesake.. Only good for namesake
Recently I started reading books again. After addiction of Harry Potter and Twilight saga picking something new was quite interesting but Namesake by Jhumpa lahiri didn’t reach up to my standard..
Recently I started reading books again. After addiction of Harry Potter and Twilight saga picking something new was quite interesting but Namesake by Jhumpa lahiri didn’t reach up to my standard..
The story start with Indian couple name Mr. and Mrs. Ganguli living their life in America. Ashoke is doing his research in university where as Ashima is housewife. The concept of arrange marriage where you get chance to see your life partner once and letting the control of your life in someone else hand was interesting. But it didn’t move into new area. The Ganguli live Indian style living in America. They have 2 kids, a boy and girl.
The name of boy is another story. The post office lost the letter came from India where the name of the boy is written. Due to this mishap the boy is named Gogol, his nickname for rest of his life. As Gogol grows he starts to hate his name and later he turns into Nikhil.. Till that day he was unaware why his parents name him Gogol. Ashoke met with an accident in his childhood where he was nearly died. His life was saved all thanks to Gogol, Russian authors book.
Since Nikhil lived his childhood in America, he is more of American rather than being an Indian. He studies to be architecture. His small sister Sonia is also little bit American.
The twist in the tale comes when Ashoke due to heart attack pass away. Here on the story moves to Ashima being lonely in planet name America where she doesn’t have her family and Nikhil being the man of the house. Story ends with Ashima decide to move to India, Nikhil’s wife cheat on him and decide to divorce. Lastly Sonia bringing the happy ending of going to get married to boy name Ben.
The story is usual. Life in America by Indian. Nothing in this novel is exciting or interesting. I hardly laugh or cry reading this. The story is narrated by Ashima or Gogol/Nikhil. Sonia hardly get footage in the story. Here and there her name is mentioned.
Overall its good read for those Indian who moved to another country. May be they can get connected. But for person like me who like many twist and turn, laugh and cry, this book is boring.
Now I better watch movie to see the outcome of this book.
