The Namesake - A Review

(15 of 2021)

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'The Namesake' by Jhumpa Lahiri - "For being a foreigner, Ashima is beginning to realize, is a sort of lifelong pregnancy—a perpetual wait, a constant burden, a continuous feeling out of sorts." - the best phrase to summarise the book.

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As I hail from Doaba - the 'phoren' crazy land of Punjab, the lives of the acquaintances sprinkled far and wide on the world map has always been intriguing. Hence, this book.

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The Namesake is the story of a Bengali couple Ashoke and Ashima and their world that they set up in America as young migrants. With big dreams in their eyes, Ms Lahiri also doesn't miss out on the dilemmas and difficulty that they face in a country much foreign to them in culture and cuisine, sans many Bongbhashis.

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SPOILER ALERT - Though Ashoke and Ashima may feel pariahs, the family offshoots Nikhil née Gogol and Sonia don't feel that way. Stuck somewhere on an island between their Desi looks and American hearts, the story gives a very candid insight to the world of the much looked upon NRIs - the dilemmas, the discrimination, the longings, nostalgia and the constant struggle to "fit in".

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I think this is what they mean when they say books let you live multiple lives. I felt the sadness of Ashima knitting sweater vests for her father sitting miles away, I felt the frustration of Gogol comparing his parents with his companion's, exchanging Pujos for Thanksgivings and still not being considered a part of the clan.

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Very beautifully written, I felt happy and sad with their characters, lived all their struggles, breakups, deaths and separations with them.

"Remember that you and I made this journey, that we went together to a place where there was nowhere left to go." 🙃

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Having fallen in love with Ashoke (ngl, I was visualising and missing Irrfan all the while I was reading this) and in a companionship with Gogol, I'll forever cherish this book. Rating - 5/5.

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#anamslibrary #anamsreview #nerdfest #jhumpalahiri #thenamesake #diaspora

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