Reader's Paradise discussion

Debut novel of much acclaimed author Jhumpa Lahiri
Moving between events in Calcutta, Boston, and New York City, the novel examines the nuances involved with being caught between two conflicting cultures with highly distinct religious, social, and ideological differences.

The Namesake takes the Ganguli family from their tradition-bound life in Calcutta through their fraught transformation into Americans. On the heels of their arranged wedding, Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli settle together in Cambridge, Massachusetts. An engineer by training, Ashoke adapts far less warily than his wife, who resists all things American and pines for her family. When their son is born, the task of naming him betrays the vexed results of bringing old ways to the new world. Named for a Russian writer by his Indian parents in memory of a catastrophe years before, Gogol Ganguli knows only that he suffers the burden of his heritage as well as his odd, antic name.

I would be joining in next week. This is a much awaited read :)

I've started it, and enjoying it.

in my list for this year. Will start in a few days.

I'll start from tomorrow!!
My second book by Miss Lahiri.

I have just completed reading this book (I could not wait until March sorry guys (wide grin!) I really enjoyed it. ( I'll follow along in the discussion and promise not to give it away in any of my posts)

Given that the book is called 'The Namesake', it is no surprise that one of the major themes in this book is names. I wondered if you guys would like to reflect on your name, its meaning/origin, your nickname, married names etc. What do you like or dislike about it or in general what is your name on names and their meanings....

What a great idea Lucinda! My real first name is Russian and means birthday, my surname is Arabic and means chosen (my surname before being married means wealthy guard!). I've started the book, and I understand what the characters feel about names: they are so important and must be chosen really carefully! When I was pregnant, it was an crucial point! I wanted names with powerful meanings and a great story, that's why I chose Sarah (the princess and the one who smiles) and Amina (the one we can trust) and they have both a religious meaning and story.

Gorab wrote: "Debut work of much acclaimed author Jhumpa Lahiri
Moving between events in Calcutta, Boston, and New York City, the novel examines the nuances involved with being caught between two c..."

Sorry to be pedantic but "Interpreter of Maladies" came in first.. :) or did you mean debut novel?

@Martin...Wow... how interesting! You and your family all have names that you seem to love and feel proud of. I can see why the main character didn't connect with his name. I'm going to take a cue from you and this book and change my online name and profile picture. It feels weird but I'm gonna do it anyway. From now on I am Maya Moon

Maya Moon wrote: "I have just completed reading this book (I could not wait until March sorry guys (wide grin!) I really enjoyed it. ( I'll follow along in the discussion and promise not to give it away in any of my..."

Awesome idea!
And interesting story Martin. Well thought names. Credit goes to you... and your parents :)

Indrani wrote: "Gorab wrote: "Debut work of much acclaimed author Jhumpa Lahiri
Moving between events in Calcutta, Boston, and New York City, the novel examines the nuances involved with being caught..."

Oh yeah. Thank you for the correction. Edited.

I would be starting this novel from next week..!! :)

I would start the novel soon! already have a copy.

It's great idea to discuss here. My name was given to me by parents as they seem to be satisfied with their family size when I arrived. I was the third girl child of the family and hence to mark the satisfaction, I was named "Tripti" menas "Satisfaction".
My surname is "Saini". Although somehow right from my childhood, I always thought that it does not goes well with my name.

All the other members, please do comment with your name and the story behind it. I would love to know.

I don't know on what basis my parent named me! I think being the last one, they decided not to waste too much energy to search for a good name. My name comes from Hindi, "Arpit", which is, in my opinion, a very generic name. It's very common in India. And it doesn't sound cool at all.
In fact, it's a verb, which means to "offer (to god)".
Fun fact: all four/five members in my family have their name start with the letter "A".
There I go.
Gorab?

How interesting to hear about your place in the family and how you feel about your names Gorab and Tripti.

My name was chosen by my dad and is a combo of my mother and grandmother's given names. It means light and has been meaningful to me. However, when I immigrated I wanted to change this to something more "normal" like Linda...luckily I passed that phase and kept my original name :)

A weird name change for me was taking on my married name, people always ask me about it and ask me where it’s from. I wish I hyphened my last name to be a combo of our last names. I often think about doing this, maybe this book will be the inspiration I need? How do people feel about married names?

How interesting to read about all these stories! I love talking abour that topic actually! And when I read a book, I often look for meanings behind the characters's names and the author's choices!

My real name is Natacha Mokhtari (married name) and Duarte (before marriage). I love my married name. In Portugal, people keep both their parents's names. So when they marry, they have a very long surname! My father chose to have his godfather's name (I don't know how he managed to do such a thing!), so his brothers and sisters have a different name! My mother has about 6 different names! Civil services are completely lost!
Now in France we can give both father's and mother's name to children so my daughters have both! And they are really proud!

I love looking at my colleagues's names too! In my school, we have really funny ones! If I translate them in English, there are: Mrs Old, Mrs Funny, Mr Pink, Mr Sink, Mr Bichon, Mr Coat, Mrs Badnight, Mrs Castle, ... I told them that we could write a great story only with their names!

Maya Moon wrote: "How interesting to hear about your place in the family and how you feel about your names Gorab and Tripti."

Errr.... I think you meant Arpit and Tripti :D
Bcoz I didn't talk about it until now.

My full name is Gaurav Jain.
How it came into being?
I have an elder sister. Even before my sister was born, parents had decided two names. One each for a boy and a girl. For girl, the name would be Garima (meaning grace), and if its a boy the name would be Gaurav (meaning pride).

From where I live, the gender of the kid is not determined before being born. So in our families, its a sweet surprise whether it will be a boy or a girl :) [And I love that anticipation and curiosity :)]

So when their second kid turned out to be a boy, it was pretty easy to chose the name.

The last name comes from the father's last name. Everyone in my family has last name "Jain".

I liked my name before this internet era and social networking sites. During that, realisation struck that how it is a very very common name. Its like if I search a person with my full name and living in the same city, having similar age... I'll still get more than 100 results easily!

My college was 1300 miles away from home. The regional people had much difficulty pronouncing it. The teachers were having a tough time. After little experimenting, teachers and friends started calling me Gorab and I accepted that name :)

Thereafter, my online alias and even physical identity has become Gorab Jain.
I don't know what it means. There is no such word in English or in Hindi.

This is so very interesting Natacha. Curious to know about the origin of Martin Eden as well if its not much of a bother to you.

6 different names? Even all the official documents don't stick to a single name?
Man! That would be something else! Whether she enjoys it or is irked by it?

And regarding your last para about Mrs Old and Mrs Funny.... Wouldn't it be interesting if people started keeping names which sound beautiful... and not necessarily have any meaning?

Hi everyone. My name is Ritija Munshi. My dad chose my name. I'm an only child and I think he wanted to give me a unique name.[which he did;)] Ritija word originates from sanskrit language. Its another name for Lord Shiva meaning the greatest most powerful. And munshi is a surname among kashmiri pandits.

Gorab wrote: "Maya Moon wrote: "How interesting to hear about your place in the family and how you feel about your names Gorab and Tripti."

Errr.... I think you meant Arpit and Tripti :D
Bcoz I didn't talk abou..."


Ohh!! So now I get the meaning of "Gorab". Nice to know the story behind it.

Megha~*book addict* wrote: "Hi everyone. My name is Ritija Munshi. My dad chose my name. I'm an only child and I think he wanted to give me a unique name.[which he did;)] Ritija word originates from sanskrit language. Its ano..."

Really unique name!!

It is a pleasure to be among you all. Started the book. Have just been introduced to the Gangulys. Let us see how the book progresses. will like to discuss the nuances as i progress.

Regarding names...will like to discuss how we named our two sons

The discussion with my father who is a genius of English literature brought forward the following few rules

1. The name must be driven from Hindu mythology. Religion is what we derive from our ancestors hence the connect is essential.
2. It must be a reflection of the parents.
3. It must be a gift of a positive quality. I think dad did not consider this while naming me as i am called Sameer (friends also call me Akash).

We named our sons Suhrid and Medhansh
Suhrid : One of the thousand names of Vishnu....means man with a good heart
Medhansh : One of the names of Krishna.....means man with a sharp mind

The genesis of life can be traced to "Sajal Shradha Prakhar Pragya". Good heart and Sharp intellect. I hope my sons inherit these qualities

I started and completed the first chapter. Am getting Interpreter of Maladies vibes here, especially the first story! Gorab, do you remember the title?

Gorab wrote: "And regarding your last para about Mrs Old and Mrs Funny.... Wouldn't it be interesting if people started keeping names which sound beautiful... and not necessarily have any meaning?"

It might not have any meaning in language X, but there exists a language Y such that the word holds some value.

Even Gorab would have some meaning in P language's Q dialect. Just learn 'em all, buddy *tckh* ;)

Gorab wrote: "Maya Moon wrote: "How interesting to hear about your place in the family and how you feel about your names Gorab and Tripti."

Errr.... I think you meant Arpit and Tripti :D
Bcoz I didn't talk abou..."

Oops, sorry my bad. I blame it on late nights and early mornings! Interesting to hear how your name evolved into something s unique.

Arpit wrote: "Gorab wrote: "And regarding your last para about Mrs Old and Mrs Funny.... Wouldn't it be interesting if people started keeping names which sound beautiful... and not necessarily have any meaning?"..."

So true...it sure is interesting how one name can have so many interesting meanings from different languages. The name 'Maya' has so many influences and so many different meanings, from Japanese, Greek, Persian, Mexican, Brazillian... etc
etc...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_(g...

That's really interesting to know how names (first and last names) are chosen and given. I think it's really important to communicate about this name's story with one's child, to avoid what Gogol is living actually! I often tell and explain my choices to my daughters, how my husband and I came to choose these names. We, Muslims, are convinced that names are actually given by God even before the birth. God chose our names when He created Man. And we, parents, are only responding to His desire, decision. So it's an honour to be named since this name was given by God Himself.

I'm on page 159 (chapter 7). I'm really angry with Gogol! I even feel sad and sorry for his parents. I identify his parents with mine!

martin eden wrote: "That's really interesting to know how names (first and last names) are chosen and given. I think it's really important to communicate about this name's story with one's child, to avoid what Gogol i..."

Same...initially I disliked Gogol to a great extent. But as the book proceeds, I find it difficult to hate him. The author makes sure that we love each of her characters in one way or the other, even Gogol's girlfriends.

Have reached page 87...... curious to know why Martin is angry with gogol..... intesting topic...... how will the story develop gogol's relation with his namesake....... Thx to you all bringing me on to this book which was on the list for long

One of the other themes that emerged in this book is immigration and the effects of it on different generations. As an immigrant myself I could relate to Gogol and to his parents and the complexities of living in a different country... where is home? What is family really? How to deal with loss? Parents seem to sacrifice so much for their children and children grow up with multilayered identities and different world views that create barriers in the family... any other thoughts about this? Any other immigrants reading along?

Maya Moon wrote: "One of the other themes that emerged in this book is immigration and the effects of it on different generations. As an immigrant myself I could relate to Gogol and to his parents and the complexiti..."

I'm no immigrant, but, yeah, immigration is one of the prominent theme in Jhumpa Lahiri's works.

I finished the book yesterday, gave it 4*. It was a really captivating reading, with lots of interesting topics. I'm still a little bit angry with Gogol even if I can easily understand why he had such thoughts and reactions. I admire his mother and father a lot!
I loved Lahiri's style. Her descriptions are not at all dull and boring, her ellipsis are very well done. She wants us to like her characters. I could feel her love for her own culture.

I'm a child of immigrants. My parents came illegaly in France. They were fleeing the dictatorship in Portugal. I was raised with this Portuguese culture: they spoke Portuguese to us, Portuguese food, Portuguese songs. But Portugal is a European country and so not really different from France. It's not like India and the USA.

I couldn't start till now. Will be starting it mid of this week.
Anybody to give me company? Or you've all finished?

By the way, the discussion on names is a wonderful way to get initiated to "namesake". Looking forward to more of it :)

Arpit wrote: "I started and completed the first chapter. Am getting Interpreter of Maladies vibes here, especially the first story! Gorab, do you remember the title?"

No I don't. But might remember the story after looking up the title.

A temporary matter! Yes I remember it clearly :)

Gorab wrote: "I couldn't start till now. Will be starting it mid of this week.
Anybody to give me company? Or you've all finished?

By the way, the discussion on names is a wonderful way to get initiated to "nam..."
I'll be starting in a day or two!

Finished and ready to discuss Gogol. He seems to be the central character. Will share more when most of us have read it !

Selected this to be RUSKIN BOND month. Now will read RUSTY.

AKASH wrote: "Finished and ready to discuss Gogol. He seems to be the central character. Will share more when most of us have read it !"

Yes, I look forward to hearing views on Gogol!

Arpit wrote: "Maya Moon wrote: "One of the other themes that emerged in this book is immigration and the effects of it on different generations. As an immigrant myself I could relate to Gogol and to his parents ..."

Yes, she is a bit of a powerhouse Jhumpa Lahiri
'The Namesake' is my introduction to her work. (I am clearly a fan! :))

Wow, you guys already finished it. Great. I'm still on 3rd chapter.
Gorab, you clearly have my company!

We request everyone to participate in nominations for April.....

I started this yesterday. Have read one Chapter. Found the writing good.

P.S. Never read much Russian authors. Going by his grandfather's words, I'll seek more Russian authors in upcoming reads.

Gorab wrote: "I started this yesterday. Have read one Chapter. Found the writing good.

P.S. Never read much Russian authors. Going by his grandfather's words, I'll seek more Russian authors in upcoming reads."

I've read few Hindi translation of Russian short stories. Few of them were of Chekhov. Don't remember the titles, but they were good. Excited to try them :)

I am in chapter 3. Loving the writing. ..

Started the book... read first chapter (view spoiler)[which was trying to reveal complete story of Ashima and Ashoke! (hide spoiler)]

Read Chapter 2. Quite a few quote-worthy phrases regarding formal names and pet names :)
Loving the writing so far.

I also liked her writing style.

Me too....I found it interesting to read how she described colours and the degrees on cleanliness of items...She must have a pet peeve about cleanliness... ha ha