Play Book Tag discussion

This book was read in honor of Michael Edwards who gave it 5 stars.

In the late 1960's Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli left their homes in India as newlyweds and moved to Boston where Ashoke had attended M.I.T. He is now a professor of engineering and has learned to assimilate into the American culture. Ashima is constantly homesick and has a difficult time feeling at peace. The birth of their son only made her miss India even more as she is unable to celebrate the customs surrounding the birth of their child. A tradition is to wait to officially name the child until a name is chosen by an older family member. As they wait for a letter from Ashima's grandmother with the infant boy's name they choose the name 'Gogol' as a temporary pet name. Ashoke admires the Russian author and a deep connection was formed during a near tragedy years before.

As Gogol grows he detests his name just waiting for the day he would be old enough to officially change it. Attending Yale and Columbia with an advanced degree in architecture, Gogol is now known as Nikhil except to his family. He embarks on several serious relationships with American women but never quite finding the right match until he meets Moushumi, another Bengali who becomes his wife. Family celebrations, tragedies and drama fill Gogol's life as he tries to have the life he believes he wants.

This is a lovely story of the deep love of a family for one another. I enjoyed the Indian customs and foods that were described in the book. Gogol is a great character, one who initially seems lost but finds great strength within himself, much of it instilled by his parents. I have liked all of Jhumpa Lahiri's books so far.

This was the first of her books I read and really liked it too.

Great review!

Lahiri is a marvelous writer. Great review.