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The Namesake

The Namesake

A Novel
Contemporary LiteratureLiterary Fiction
Pages
291
Published
2005
Language
English

Synopsis

Gogol, named after his father's favorite author, struggles with his identity growing up in an Indian family in suburban America. He dislikes his name and the values it represents, yearning for a life separate from his parents. His journey to find himself reveals that identity is more complex than just a name.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

ReflectiveEmotionalThought-ProvokingMelancholic
Coming of AgeFish Out of Water

Genres

Contemporary Literature Literary Fiction

About the author

J
Jhumpa Lahiri

Jhumpa Lahiri is best known for her novel The Namesake and her debut story collection, Interpreter of Maladies. She writes primarily about the immigrant experience and the complexities of family life. Her recent work includes several books written and published first in Italian.

Characters

Gogol GanguliProtagonist
All characters in The Namesake

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