The Namesake Study Guide

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. (read more)