Debut novel from the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of short stories, Interpreter of Maladies Jhumpa Lahiri's elegant collection Interpreter of Maladies took as its subject matter the lives of Indians in exile, of people navigating between the strict traditions they've inherited and the baffling New World they must encounter every day. The Namesake, in a similar vein, is the story of a Bengali exile in Boston, from 'a dazzling storyteller, the kind of writer who makes you want to grab the next person you ...
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Debut novel from the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of short stories, Interpreter of Maladies Jhumpa Lahiri's elegant collection Interpreter of Maladies took as its subject matter the lives of Indians in exile, of people navigating between the strict traditions they've inherited and the baffling New World they must encounter every day. The Namesake, in a similar vein, is the story of a Bengali exile in Boston, from 'a dazzling storyteller, the kind of writer who makes you want to grab the next person you see and say "Read this!"' (AMY TAN)
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An intelligent and empathetic look at transcultural family life, Indian values and its tensions, and the search for roots by a writer formed by such things (India, UK and US). Wonderful character portrayals, a delightful read that may broaden your cultural awareness as it did mine.
JRich
Jul 15, 2008
Wonderful!
I loved this story for the way it portrayed both the ordinary and the extraordinary experiences of the characters' lives. The way she wove the stories of Ashoke and Ashima together with the stories of their children was also very beautiful giving you a perspective most readers will probably share - that of a child and that of a parent - having been the one and become the other. Certain parts of the story broke my heart and other parts felt like small triumphs, but all told the story just felt very real. My life, as a suburban wife and mother living 3 miles from where a grew up with a Western European background and not even possessing a passport, is continually enriched by authors such as Lahiri who share something that, to me, is a world away.
sase
Jan 22, 2008
the way she wrote the book will make you feel how each of the characters felt in different situations there is a beautiful connection between the reader and the characters she did a wonderful job
Nell
Jun 22, 2007
Culturally Revealing and Poignant
Jhumpa Lahiri's novel The Namesake is a powerfully told story of cultures merging. It is also a riveting coming-of-age story of a boy who grows into his name. Definitely a worthwhile book!
pattybake
Apr 26, 2007
The Namesake
This book is a wonderful read! I read it for my book club in February. I would recommend this to everyone!
