Book Reviews of The Namesake

I just read this book in 6 hours, the day after I received it in the mail. Very well written, excellent description but not drawn out. Not predictable. Definitely worth reading.

This is one of the most moving books I have ever read. It is one of the best depictions ever of the longing for a former homeland and the sense of not yet belonging to the new one that exists. Any immigrant or descendant of one will find an echo of his/her own life in this book. A lovely story of family, tradition and pride...it makes you laugh and cry at the same time!

About the experience of an immigrant family to the USA. A very good read. I read it straight through and got very little sleep. Have not seen the movie, yet!

I was unsure whether I would enjoy the book, but I found it hard to put down. The prose is effortless, wrought with detail but taut and fast paced. Not many surprises in the book - I felt I knew how it would end, but this was not disappointing. Overall, a great read, one I will remember.

very touching. read it in two days. extremely atmospheric. made me want to put on some ravi shankar, drink indian tea, and eat chicken masala all day long. :)

Well-written and rich with detail. Great book!

Wonderful, insightful story! I wanted to read the book after seeing the movie (which I also loved!) - the book gave more depth to the story...

This is a lovely book...beautiful prose, very well written and an interesting tale of an Indian family.

Written by Pulitzer Prize winner, jhumpa lahiri - straightforward telling of a story that pulls you through the book - clashing of cultures - poignant and believable. I couldn't put it down.

Gogol Ganguli is The Namesake of the title of this book. A first generation American, born to Bengali parents, Gogol is named after a Russian author is father admires. The name was given to him as a temporary name, while is parents await a letter from home in which a grandmother will send with his true name. The letter never arrives and Gogol becomes a name that never seems to fit, just as Gogol himself never seems completely at home in America or on his frequent trips back to his parent’s home country Bangladesh.

A very good story about the difficulties of assimilation and loss of identity, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Gogol and his family’s trials and tribulations in America.

What's in a name, especially a Russian-turned-make-shift Bengali one. Gogol Ganguli, a first generation Indian-American discovers the significance of his pet-turned-good name only after spending half a lifetime being embarrassed by it as well as his Indian heritage.

Although Gogol Ganguli knows Nikolai Gogol was his father's favorite author, he only knows half the story behind his namesake.

Lahiri's writing is comfortable and beautiful, like a colorful sari. Readers are treated to well rounded characters and descriptions that allow them to visualize what's happening. As usual, Lahiri embeds Indian culture lessons in her novel as well.

By midway, though, Lahiri allows Namesake to slog as Gogol wanders and feels sorry for his upper-middle class, pampered self a bit too long and nothing interesting happens. For example, the love affairs are tediously dull.

Lahiri makes up for it at the end as she brings the Gangulis' story to a bittersweet, but satisfying end. Definitely worth reading and then watching the movie afterwards.

A definite page turner. It made me think of my own immigrant parents and how I dealt with life. A great book for all who had a different culture other than an American life.

I was pleasantly surprised at how very much I enjoyed this book. It is a very well written and compelling story of a family experiencing the trials of leaving their families and establishing roots in a country with totally different traditions.

Beautiful story. The Ganguli family comes to American to make their home from Calcutta. They experience culture shock and are home sick. This story will rip at your heart if you have ever been away from home for sometime. It will make you realize what one experiences in a different country, if you have not ever had to leave and try to ajust to new surroundings and people. I loved this book.

I liked this almost as much as I did the Interpreter of Maladies. Even if you can't relate to the immigrant experience or South Asian cultural norms, she has the ability of the great writers to draw characters who are both universal and very specific. I am now an official fan.

I actually found the book slow at first. Once I got in to it, maybe about 75 to 100 pages in, when Gogol got older, I really grew to like it. I liked seeing life through other character's eyes as events were moving forward. I loved the way that immigrant's lives were portrayed and how distinct their experiences were to their childrens' in the US. So many topics were covered here in such great depth. I loved the character development and the way that lives were intertwined. Great read! Definitely recommend.

I love how richly the charcters are developed. You really get a sense for who they are and its a beautiful glimpse into the lives of this immigrant family. A wonderful read, I really enjoyed it!

I loved this book. It was interesting to see the main character grow from an immature boy who pretty much turned his back on his heritage to a man who embraced it.

Excellent book! I highly recommend this one for anyone looking for something different.

I found the first 100 pages of this book to be a little slow and while it did a good job of setting up the story, there were times that I felt like the story had no direction. The middle and up until the last three pages, I became extremely engaged in the book - not wanting to put it down. The end was satisfying but not exciting. Overall, it's worth the read but not one that will find a permanent space in my bookcase.

Lahiri describes very vividly the experiences of growing up American with immigrant parents. Gogol's stuggle to come to terms with his heritage and discover his identity are realistically poignant. Lahiri's writing is descriptive but easy to read - each sentence just flows into the next. As someone considering an intercultural marriage, it brought to light a lot of issues I hadn't considered before.

This book is a keeper for me!

What a surprise this book was. I was not expecting to like this book at all, it took me a couple of years to actually sit down and read it. I LOVED it! This has to be one of the best books I've read in a long time. I enjoyed every page from cover to cover. I would recommend everyone to read this book. Jhumpa Lahiri does a beautiful job describing a Bengali/American heritage. She is a beautifully talented author.

Despite some of the sad and depressing moments, I enjoyed this book, learning about Indian and Bengali culture, and observing both American and Indian culture through the eyes of natives and non-natives. Being familiar with at least the basic themes from Nikolai Gogol's "The Overcoat" will help with understanding some of the issues at hand. Not always cheerful, but a good view of human nature from several cultural standpoints. Recommended.

Meet the Ganguli family, new arrivals from Calcutta, trying their best to become Americans even as they pine for home. The name they bestow on their firstborn, Gogol, betrays all the conflicts of honoring tradition in a new world -- conflicts that will haunt Gogon on his own winding path through divided loyalties, comic detours, and wrenching love affairs.

the author brilliantly illuminates the immmigrant experience and tangled ties between generations.

Good writing, but main character passive and boring

Fast read; wonderful for any teacher that teaches multi-culture class

It was a decent story of adjusting to life in America. I found the story of the parents far more interesting than that of Gogol/Nikhail. I would have preferred the story having been centered on the adult characters. A worthwhile read, but certainly not my favorite book about Asian Indians (that would be "A Suitable Boy," by Vikram Seth.).

A beautiful coming-of-age novel that follows a first-generation Indian boy through his trials with the American culture, his desire to fit in, and his fraught, but loving relationship with his tradition-bound parents. A very real but lyrical novel.

Touching and beautifully crafted work by someone I consider one of the best contributors to literature.

I really, really enjoyed reading this. It was just what I was wanting. Not too heavy. Just a pure joy to read.

Great book. I loved the chracter. Very easy read.

The prose in this novel is excellent, never seems forced, the story unfolds so easily and makes you care about the family. From the first page, I was hooked.

This was an excellent book, very well written!! My bookclub found we wanted to learn more about the Indian culture. As a child growing up as a first generation American, I could relate to the story and the same with many friends of different cultures. I am excited to read more by the author!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is beautifully written.

I really enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down. It details the struggles of an Indian family and their life in America. I am dying to see the movie now.

Great book! Orginal story about the immigrant experience! One of my favorites.

Pulitzer prize winner, soon to be motion picture.
some cover wear

Great book!

the best book ive read in a long time. GREAT story and SUPERB WRITING. i recommend this book to everybody

One of the finest literary works I have read in a long time.

I can't wait for Jhumpa Lahiri to come out with her next book.

This is a great book and is the movie is coming out soon. If you are a first generation of immigrant parents, this book is for you.

This story follows the Ganguli family as the transition from Calcutta to America. How each one copes with the culture here and how it affects the next generation.

This was a wonderful book. A glimpse into the Indian culture. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This story about the Ganguli family completely expresses the family's Indian immigrant experience and the cultural conflicts between the parents and their children.

I loved this book....wasn't so sure at first but it is great....movie in the works according to my sister who is in the film business

I enjoyed this book while I read it, although it didn't stick with me. Nicely written.

From Calcutta to Cambridge,Massachusetts...expectations of parents and how we define who we are.

very interesting and sometimes funny

Dazzling....an intimate, closley observed family portrait...

New York Times Bestseller. This book is about the Ganguli family, new arrivals from Calcutta, trying their best to become Americans even as they pine for home. The story centers around their firstborn, Gogol, and his own path through divided loyalties, comic detours, and wrenching love affairs.

Story of Indian immigrants to the US, their adjustment to a different culture, and their son who is born in the US and adopts American cultural norms.

Meet the Ganguli family, new arrivals from Calcutta, trying their best to become Americans even as they pine for home. The name they bestow on their firstborn, Gogol, betrays all the conflicts of honouring tradition in a new world--conflicts that will haunt Gogol on his own winding path through divided loyalties, comic detours, and wrenching love affairs.
LOVED THIS BOOK. MS. LAHIRI HAS A WONDERFUL TALENT.

Jhumpa Lahairi is a fantastic writer. Her short story anthology "Interperter of Maladies" is one of my favorite books.

This was a wonderful book. My daughter suggested I read it and it is now one of my favorite books.

Great Book!

I loved this book so much.

Jhumpa Lahiri as a lovely writing style. I really enjoyed this book and hope u will too.

Great story, beautifully told

The story of immigration and the complications among generations is written by a winner of the Pulitzer Prize.

Pulitzer prize winning author tells a story of new arrivals from Calcutta trying their best to become Americans even as they long for home; divided loyalities; immigrant experiences and the tangled ties between generations.

Absolutely wonderful. Very entertaining.

A wonderfull story.

This book was an excellent read. It was very narrative so it takes a while to get through. But it is worth it! It is a real life feel to a different culture.

Beautifully told, lovely story.

an excellent book!

Beautifully written. This book really draws you in and makes you want to read all the time.

Beautifully written. The story ends rather sadly, yet leaves you feeling as if the characters will be fine in the end. A good feeling.

I loved this book about a transplanted family from Calcutta to America and all the pains of adapting to new ways and new names. Beautifully written.

Excellent book. My husband and I both enjoyed it.

beautifully-written, deeply moving story of an immigrant from Calcutta to the US - issues of culture, family, conflicting hopes...

Interesting account of what life is like for foreigners in this country. A great way to learn about Indian traditions.

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