Jhumpa Lahri. the second book of the author It was originally a novella published in The New Yorker and was later expanded to a full length novel. It explores many of the same emotional and cultural themes as her Pulitzer Prize-winning short story collection Interpreter of Maladies. Moving between events in Calcutta, Boston, and New York City, the novel examines the nuances involved with being caught between two conflicting cultures with their highly distinct religious, social, and ideological differences.

The Namesake is a novel by Pulitzer Prize winning author Jhumpa Lahiri. The novel follows the life of Gogol Ganguli from birth until middle age, chronicling his struggle to discover who he is as a second-generation immigrant. Gogol struggles, first with his unusual name and later with the traditions his parents insist on upholding that embarrass Gogol in front of his American friends. However, as Gogol grows older, he comes to appreciate what his parents went through when moving to this country and how hard it was for them to adapt to their adopted country. Gogol eventually finds some solid ground between his parents and the world they live in, bringing him some peace. The Namesake is a novel of self-discovery that is an emotional journey its readers will not soon forget.

CHAPTER 2 The baby is born early the next morning. A name must

be chosen for the child, but Ashoke and Ashima have decided to give this honor to Ashima's grandmother who has named all the children in her family. They are not concerned that they have not received the letter the grandmother mailed a month ago because in the tradition of Calcutta, they believe they have several months to wait. However, they soon learn that the child must have a name for his birth certificate before he leaves the hospital. In their tradition, they decide to give the child a nickname that will work for the birth certificate and then change his legal name when the letter arrives from the grandmother. Ashoke decides the nickname should be Gogol, after the author of the story

CHAPTER 3 1971. After Ashoke finishes his studies at MIT and is

offered a professorship at a college outside Boston, the Ganguli family moves. At first, they live in university housing, but soon decide to buy a home of their own. Ashima and Ashoke decide on a two-story colonial in a new subdivision. Gogol will have great memories of playing in the mud of the unfinished yard and chasing salamanders around the rocks. When Gogol is five, it is time to enroll him in kindergarten. Gogol is sick the first week because he does not want to go to school. Gogol's father has told him that he will be called by a new name at school. Since the grandmother's letter was lost, Ashoke finally took it upon himself to pick a name for his son

CHAPTER 4 1982. It is Gogol's fourteenth birthday and his parents are

throwing a large party for him that includes all their Indian friends. Gogol does not enjoy the party because he does not know most of the kids invited. Gogol does not like most of his presents, either, and sets them aside for his mother to regift them to family members on their next trip to Calcutta. After the party, Gogol is in his room when his father brings him one last gift. Gogol is surprised since his father has never given him a gift without his mother's help before. However, Gogol is disappointed to find it is a book of short stories by Nikolai Gogol, his namesake. Gogol does not know why his father named him Gogol except that he liked his writings

Ashoke Ganguli- Gogol's father who has a near death experience while he is a young man. Prior to embarking for the United States in the 1970s, he is involved in a horrific train crash.

Ashima Ganguli- Ashoke's wife who arrives in Boston after an arranged marriage (Born Ashima Bhaduri).

Gogol (Nikhil) Ganguli- The main character who struggles with his Indo-American identity and rebels against his parents only to find that his values and emotions are not much different than theirs.

Sonia (Sonali) Ganguli- Gogol's younger sister. Ashoke and Ashima specifically gave her only one name which would serve as both an official and pet name, in order to avoid the confusion which arose with giving Gogol two names but pet names are hard to avoid, especially in Bengali families.Sonali‘s name ends up being Sonia

Ruth - Gogol's college sweetheart is a white American to whom Gogol is deeply attached. They soon separate after Ruth spends both spring and summer terms in England studying literature. Shortly after Ruth's return to the United States, they begin fighting and decide it is best that they stop seeing each other.

Maxine - Gogol's first "real" love, Maxine, is of white American ethnicity and a member of a liberal and very wealthy Manhattan family. Although the two love each other, they evenutally break up due to Gogol's struggles regarding the emotional complications of his father's death. Maxine later gets engaged to another man.

 

Moushumi Mazoomdar - Gogol's wife is a childhood friend from another Bengali family. After his breakup with Maxine, Ashima talks Gogol into starting a relationship with Moushumi, particularly due to their shared culture and background. Although she grew up in England, Moushumi shares a great deal in common with Gogol and the two eventually marry. However, their marriage breaks up when Moushumi starts having a sexual affair with her old love interest (a German man named Dimitri in the novel). Gogol and Moushumi realize that a shared culture is not enough for them to find happiness together

RONAN KEATING- WHEN YOU SAY NOTHING AT ALL

It's amazing How you can speak right to my heart without saying a word,

You can light up the dark

Try as I may I could never explain What I hear when You don't say a thing

CHORUS:The smile on your face Lets me know That you need me There's a truth In your eyes Saying you'll never leave me The touch of your hand says You'll catch me Whenever I fall You say it best When you say Nothing at all

All day long I can hear people talking out loud but when you hold me near you drown out the crowd

Try as they may They could never define

What's been said Between your Heart and mine

[Repeat chorus twice]