This book was not my usual m.o. -- if I hear a book is going to be made into a movie, I tend (or at least try) to read the book well in advance of the movie... that didn't quite work here, the movie version has come and gone from theaters... so given this scenario, I usually avoid buying books with the "movie version" cover... I know, pretty quirky behavior... but I guess I like to have my own mental visual vs. Hollywood's...
... but as you see, I read the "now a major motion picture" version of Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake.
With its increasing presence on the world stage, I have become more interested in reading books about India. My success rate has been a bit sketchy... from being my least favorite read of last year to good, but still a bit "out there"... so when I was looking to recover from what was not a terribly easy/fun read read with Suite Francaise, I hesitantly picked up The Namesake.
Cutting to the chase... I loved it. Where the other novels took place in India, Namesake was at least 93% set in America... so whether or not that made the difference, I do not know... but I am guessing Lahiri's writing style and storytelling ability is more responsible for whether or not I liked the book. Awards have nothing to do with it either... the previous two were Booker Award winners and Lahiri previously won the Pulitzer for her only other work, a collection of short stories.
Without giving too much away (as always!), the novel is an immigration story as the Gangulis start their newly married (and arranged marriage) life in the States. They soon start a family... giving birth to the novel's protagonist, a son ultimately named Gogol. Gogol is "the namesake"... named one of this father's favorite Russian authors. Originally meant as traditional Indian family nickname, the name, much to the chagrin of Gogol, sticks with him. While still very much about the immigrant experience, the novel shifts to one of identity... as the American-born Gogol struggles not only with his name but with his parent's not far-removed cultural traditions.
While certainly not a lengthy book, it does have a "family epic" quality to it... as it follows Gogol from birth (1968) through adulthood (2000)... which is probably another reason why I could relate since I was born just a year before (that said, there is not a whole lot of pop-culture/historical references). Some armchair critics have said they didn't connect with the characters, found Gogol's parents to be more worthy subjects of a novel, or thought it would have worked better as a novella)... and while I agree that it may have lost some focus about 75% in, it didn't impact my overall positive feelings... as with life (or my book reviews!) they tend amble/ramble on occasionally!
With this book post, I am officially caught up! I am currently reading a mammoth, it's been a bit slow-going (in kinda sorta a good way)... but I am already 15 days into it and just over halfway done... so there's no saying when the next book post will be!
2007 10K Reading Challenge: + 291 pages (Total Pages: 8340 pages)
Ah yes, I finally read this book at the suggestion of a friend of mine who says the story is so her life. I loved it, and even gave a copy to my mom as a present. Haven't seen the movie yet. Have you read Lahiri's short stories, "Interpreter of Maladies"? There's a story in there I especially like called "The Third and Final Continent."
Posted by: Jeff | Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at 11:17 AM