Chapter 4 Summary

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. Now Gogol discovers that Gogol is not even the writer's first...