Reviews

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

litlayla79's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The namesake is a story that follows a Bengali couple that moves to the US and start a family  in Massachusetts. One of the main protagonists in the book is their son Gogol who is named after the father’s favorite author, Nikolai Gogol.  

The book follows the life of Gogol from child to adult as he struggles with his Indian ancestry, the weight of his name, and what it means to be American. A big point of contention for him is his name, especially when he finds out more about the author, and the tragic history attached to that name. 

As a first generation American, I could relate deeply with Gogol’s journey. The internal and external conflict I had between being American and holding onto my Dominican ancestry. Being one of the few Dominican kids in my class. I desperately just wanted to be like everyone else and be a regular American girl.

Some of the scenes were triggering as it forced me to recall times in my childhood, where I wanted to be like everyone else, and I struggled with finding the beauty of my culture in a world, in a society that made being white the default. 

The scenes with his parents were also particularly touching. the push and pull as an adolescent. As an adult how he finally was able to see them as people who made a major sacrifice coming to the US and did the best they could in a foreign land.

In the latter part of the book, things did meander a bit, especially with the introduction of his wife. I couldn’t see how that relationship tied in with the self-realization he had at the end. I did enjoy learning a little bit more about her journey, but there wasn’t enough of her in the book in order for me to truly empathize with her choices. 

alice_wonders's review against another edition

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4.0

Insight into an Indian family & how two cultures play a tug-of-war role in their lives. Which one wins?

lets_book's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

tonironi4's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective relaxing slow-paced

3.5

anisha_02's review against another edition

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emotional reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

mmg2705's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

almond_joy's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

cpalma1's review against another edition

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informative reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

dsouash's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

poovii's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

her writing is so pretty, she has an amazing way of saying things. this book reminded me of my older brothers and sisters that helped me feel comfortable and safe in my own skin. it reminds me of how they found their own peace in their identity, hard to read but nice.