Once in a while one comes across books that linger on in the mind. Namesake was one such book for me. The beauty of the book lies in its simplicity. Though many books have been written on immigrant Indians and their children trying to find where they fit, this book gives a ?from the heart? picture of what they actually feel.
The book starts in the 60?s with Ashoke Ganguli who is a student at MIT and brings his newly wed wife Ashima to the states. They are followed by two children Gogol (who is the main character of the book) and Sonia. The story revolves around these four characters and their journey in a land that is foreign to the parents and home to the kids.
Lahiri, does not judge her characters, she does not say which point of view is right or wrong and that according to me is the strength of her book. Each of her character grows and matures throughout the story. Excellent examples of how Ashima can never feel at home in Boston and gradually learns to like and appreciate the place, how Gogol feels almost irritated with his father only to love him more after his death.
Namesake is a book which wonderfully sketches the conflicting thoughts of a first generation NRI. Ashima?s ache for India, Ashoke?s silent acceptance of the US, Gogol?s constant irritation towards anything Indian are all portrayed beautifully using very mundane and day to day incidences but giving deep insights into the mind of the character.
Namesake is a book I would recommend to anyone who likes to read about relationships, anyone who does not like complicated books, anyone who is ready to accept and understand people just the way they are.