The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri (part 8)

Gogol finally turns fourteen. He has two parties, one for his American friends and another for his parents Bengali friends. Both parties are very different but the one thing that is the same is presents. Most of the kids at his Bengali party are very young including his sisiter Sonia, who is eight. At the end of the day Ashoke comes to Gogol's room to give him a collections of stories from the Russian author Gogol, who he is named afterwards. Gogol isn't that happy about recieving these books and doesn't really know why he is named after this author. His father, Ashoke, thinks he should tell Gogol why his name is important but he decides to wait for another day. Gogol and Sonia get news from their parents that they are going to live in India for eight months with their relatives. Gogol is very upset because he is going to miss most of his sophmore year in high school and he doesn't want to be in India for so long. He is happy to find out he does not have to sit with his parents on the plane and he decides to buy a bloody mary. During there time in India they move constantly into different relatives' homes. Gogol and Sonia try to survive by listening to tapes that Gogol made before he left. They all take a trip to see the Taj Mahal and Gogol is amazed by the site. When their visit there is over Gogol realizes it is almost time to go home. When they actually make it home it takes them a few weeks to get used to the time change but they eventually do.

Question: Is being different a bad thing?

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri (part 7)

The Ganguli's begin to become more accustomed to life in America. Ashoke has stop wearing tailored suits and Ashima makes American meals for Gogol. Ashima decides to have Gogol take classes to learn about the Bengali language and culture. This upsets Gogol because he will be missing his art class. Gogol and his class go on a fieldtrip and end up at a graveyard looking for their first or last name. Gogol realizes that he will probably not find his name. When he starts looking at some of the names on the graves he sees some very unique names that makes him feel proud of his own.

Question: Should Gogol feel ashamed of his name?

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri (part 6)

The book leaves off with the Ganguli family moving into a town outside of Boston. Ashima starts to become lonely as Gogol is about to start school. When Gogol turns five Ashima finds out she is pregnant. During her pregnancy Gogol and Ashoke eat alone at dinner because Ashima is too exhausted to join them. This makes Gogol said because he misses his mother's company. As Gogol is about to start kindergarten his parents tell him the name he will be using at school, Nikhil. Having a new name upsets Gogol and he decides he does not want to use it. Later Gogol's new sister, Sonali, arrives.

Questions: Will the Ganguli's lives' change with a new addition to the family?

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri (part 5)

Ashima gets ready to visit her parents in Calcutta. She buys everything she can from stores: pens, paintbrushes, pencils, etc. As she exits the train to go home with Gogol, She realizes she has left all the items on the train. She returns home upset at the fact that she will not be bringing any gifts to her family. Ashoke decides to call metro station and it turns out all of Ashima's items were found and nothing was taken. This makes Ashima feel a little bit closer to Cambridge. Ashima and Ashoke get a call from Ashima's brother. He first talks to Ashoke and them to Ashima. Ashoke tells Ashima that her father has died. She decides to leave the gifts she bought for her father on her train and not bother to get them back. They leave a couple of days later to Calcutta. As they board the train Ashima tells Ashoke she doesn't want to go.

Question: Why is Ashima afraid to see her family?

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri (part 4)

As Gogol starts to get bigger so does the number of Bengali people the Ganguli family become acquainted with. All of the Bengali people come together because they all share something in common. Ashima is approached by Bengali bachelors wondering what her nationality is. A few weeks later they return to Cambridge with their own brides from Calcutta. Each of the women coming from Calcutta come to Ashima for advice. They ask her questions about adjusting to life in America. When Gogol turns six months old, Ashima and Ashoke have a rice ceremony for him. This ceremony revolves around Gogol eating solid food for the first time. Since none of Ashima or Ashoke's family can attend the event they substitute parts of the ceremony with their Bengali friends. Gogol is offered a plate with three items, and which ever one he grabs determines his future. He decides to grab none.

Question: Will Gogol have a bad future becaue he didn't take one of the items on the plate?

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri (part 3)

Ashima starts to become real home-sick and feels sorry for Gogol because he doesn't have the warmth of the family atmosphere, like she did. Letters arrive to their home except from Ashima's grandmother. Ashima starts to get worried and writes to her grandmother. Ashima's father sends her a letter telling her bad news; her grandmother has had a stroke, is paralyzed, and doesn't really remember anything. Ashima becomes depressed for a couple of days and Ashoke and Gogol can't do anything about it. She starts to think about Gogol don't being able to see his great grandmother.

Question: Is Gogol missing out on some important lessons because he has not met is Indian family?

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri (part 2)

Ashoke and Ashima have just had their baby and are waiting for the arrival of the name of their baby from Ashima's grandmother. When they are ready to leave the hospital they are told they must give the baby a name before he is allowed to leave. So they decide to make the baby's nickname Gogol, after the character in the book Ashoke was reading during the train accident. Both Ashoke and Ashima believe this name is only temporary and will change it on the birth certificate when the letter of the baby's real name arrives. The Ganguli family takes Gogol home and await for the name. While waiting Ashima goes through troubldes with taking care of Gogol. He develops and ear infection and Ashima feels she is not a good mother.

Question: Are names really important?