A review by manha10
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

5.0

I have never felt so seen in literature or any other media format, going on to show how much representation matters. I never related to the small details and events of a story so much. Jhumpa Lahiri's book explored identity and belonging by focusing on a simple name that carried so much weight for its bearers, and I loved reading every second of it. Her beautiful and detailed writing pulled me in and didn't let me go. I was never bored even though she was detailed at times because everything felt significant. It was a slice-of-life type of story and after finishing the book I felt like I personally knew the Gangulis. I had the privilege of attending one of her panels in person and she talked about her love of Italy the panel, which was very present in the book. I related to Gogol throughout the book but also felt weirdly frustrated and guilty because of that aspect as well. Lahiri perfectly captured the nuanced immigrant experience in this book which I am very grateful for. I feel a personal connection to this story and I cannot wait to watch the movie and read more of Lahiri's books. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.