The Namesake

Written by Jhumpa Lahiri

An immigrant family's struggle with identity and tradition haunts their son, Gogol, as he navigates love and loyalty.

4.0 Goodreads · 289,200 ratings

291 pages· 103,070 words· Est. 9.5 hour read· 1140L

$15.99Save 7%

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Bookroo's summary

Gogol Ganguli, born to Indian immigrants in America, grapples with his unusual name and the weight of his heritage. As he grows, Gogol faces a tug-of-war between honoring his family's traditions and forging his own path. Amidst love affairs and cultural clashes, he must decide where his true identity lies. Will Gogol find a balance between the world he was born into and the one he lives in? This poignant tale explores the complexities of family, identity, and the immigrant experience, revealing the deep ties that bind generations together.

From the publisher

“Dazzling…An intimate, closely observed family portrait.”–The New York Times “Hugely appealing.”–People Magazine “An exquisitely detailed family saga.”–Entertainment Weekly Meet the Ganguli family, new arrivals from Calcutta, trying their best to become Americans even as they pine for home. The name they bestow on their firstborn, Gogol, betrays all the conflicts of honoring tradition in a new world–conflicts that will haunt Gogol on his own winding path through divided loyalties, comic detours, and wrenching love affairs. In The Namesake, the Pulitzer Prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri brilliantly illuminates the immigrant experience and the tangled ties between generations.

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