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Ilse's Reviews > The Namesake
The Namesake
by
Train journeys a beautiful leitmotiv bringing change, reflection, direction, encounters, love, life, death.
Mixed feelings on style and storytelling.
(Auto)biographical feel.
Book more subtle than film by Mira Nair.
More moved by the depiction of the generation of the parents than of the children.
by
Train journeys a beautiful leitmotiv bringing change, reflection, direction, encounters, love, life, death.
Mixed feelings on style and storytelling.
(Auto)biographical feel.
Book more subtle than film by Mira Nair.
More moved by the depiction of the generation of the parents than of the children.
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The Namesake.
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Reading Progress
July 17, 2023
–
Started Reading
July 17, 2023
– Shelved
July 17, 2023
–
6.53%
"Read all the Russians, and then reread them,” his grandfather had said. “They will never fail you.” It was while walking on some of the world’s noisiest, busiest streets, on Chowringhee and Gariahat Road, that he had read pages of The Brothers Karamazov, and Anna Karenina, and Fathers and Sons… Ashoke’s mother was always convinced that her eldest son would be hit by a bus or a tram, his nose deep into War and Peace."
page
19
July 17, 2023
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7.9%
"Ghosh shook his head. "You are still young. Free," Do yourself a favor. Before it’s too late, without thinking too much about it first, pack a pillow and a blanket and see as much of the world as you can. You will not regret it. One day it will be too late."
"My grandfather always says that’s what books are for," Ashoke said, using the opportunity to open the volume in his hands. "To travel without moving an inch.""
page
23
"My grandfather always says that’s what books are for," Ashoke said, using the opportunity to open the volume in his hands. "To travel without moving an inch.""
July 25, 2023
–
80.41%
"Immersing herself in a third language, a third culture, had been her refuge—she approached French, unlike things American or Indian, without guilt, or misgiving, or expectation of any kind. It was easier to turn her back on the two countries that could claim her in favor of one that had no claim whatsoever.
(Sounds so much what Lahiri would do herself by starting to write in Italian as a third language)."
page
234
(Sounds so much what Lahiri would do herself by starting to write in Italian as a third language)."
July 27, 2023
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-15 of 15 (15 new)
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message 1:
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Kanti
(last edited Jul 26, 2023 04:34AM)
(new)
Jul 25, 2023 08:52AM
Ilse, I've just finished reading another book by Lahiri, Whereabouts, a beautiful read. I will look forward to reading your thoughts on The Namesake. Happy reading! 🌸
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Thank you very much, Mongoose ♥ - A couple of years ago, Whereabouts was the first book I read by Lahiri and made me definitely want to read more by her - and with picking this one I am finally getting to it! I'll look for your review on 'Whereabouts'...
Ilse, I have read two other books by Lahiri. The Lowland was good, but I don't seem to have liked Roman Stories.
Mongoose, I read quite a couple of reviews of readers who liked Lahiri's previous work and were not so smitten by Roman Stories. I told myself first to read her older work and then see if I would read Roman Stories. Did you like 'The Lowland' more than Whereabouts?
Fair and honest review, Ilse. 🌹I've read this book and watched the movie as well. Not in that order. That's why I suppose I too felt the same as you. Sadly, I didn't read anymore books by Jhumpa. This was her debut work, so I might try other books.
You're wise to not waste too many words (as I did) explaining why a book spends too many words saying what could be said better with fewer, Ilse. Yes too, to finding the parents' early lives much more moving than the next generation's.
P.B. wrote: "Fair and honest review, Ilse. 🌹I've read this book and watched the movie as well. Not in that order. That's why I suppose I too felt the same as you. Sadly, I didn't read anymore books by Jhumpa. ..."
P.B, thank you very much for your lovely comment ♥. I have not been able to write a proper review on the book yet, just noted down some thoughts upon finishing it and watching the film - it is such a relief I am not the only one having mixed feelings about this tale. Too much and too little at the same time, sigh. Because of reading Whereabouts: A Novel and being told she is a great short story writer, I might nonetheless continue with her work, just like you might try her again. Fingers crossed for our next Jhumpa Lahiri reading x
I like your telegram of a review, Ilse.This one was my introduction to Lahiri and the start of a fine love affair with her work. The theme of two countries and languages (first- generation immigrants not belonging to the new country and their children feeling that they don't really belong anywhere) is Lahiri's recurrent one and she's very good at it, I think.
I didn't know there was a film, thanks a lot for the info.
I second what Violeta said. Telegram-like but it gave me a good idea of what this book is about. Thanks, Ilse.
I like the variation of the review style. Anyway, it shows more credibility than using ( exactly ) 289 lines ( in the context of Any review ) - as I have seen before, quite often.
You know Ilse, the most special thing that amazes me about Jhumpa, is her passion for the Italian language. When I lived in Italy for 4 years, I came across many Italian literature students who were her unwavering fans.
Such a compelling review, Ilse! Message delivered, you managed to say so much with just a few lines, thank you. Immigration, having to adapt to different cultures and learning new languages are such an integral part of my personal history that sometimes I’m a bit on edge about the effect these themes might have on me through fiction or nonfiction, although I’m definitely interested in reading and learning more about them. I have been thinking whether or not to read Jhumpa Lahiri’s latest collection, Roman Stories, so reading your review and some comments here I see that maybe it wouldn't be a good starting point. In any case her work sounds quite intriguing. Ah and yes to train journeys!
Fionnuala wrote: "You're wise to not waste too many words (as I did) explaining why a book spends too many words saying what could be said better with fewer, Ilse. Yes too, to finding the parents' early lives much finding the parents' early lives much more moving than the next generation's.Fionnuala, reading your review was such a feast of recognition, even if I had dearly wished the book for us both had resonated more. I had such high hopes on the book, for that reason taking it on holiday thinking it would be 'the' book for this summer, like Laxness' Under the Glacier was a couple of years ago, and looking back on it on a moment I am again flooded with work, I simply don't have the energy to post anything that makes sense. I like Lahiri's voice, the subdued tristesse in it, the themes and it all started so promising with the reflections on the importance of books on the train - but the stories (and especially the love affairs) of the younger generation made this feel double as long as it actually was and I was quite disappointed not seeing the point or connection with the stories of Gogol. On the generation of the parents versus the next, I had the impression that there was more tenderness in Lahiri's writing - as if she stepped into the shoes of her parents and affectionately imagined their (early) lives - while the lives of the next generation echo more the sense of loneliness and rootlessness I recognised in Whereabouts.
Violeta wrote: "I like your telegram of a review, Ilse.This one was my introduction to Lahiri and the start of a fine love affair with her work. The theme of two countries and languages (first- generation immigra..."
Violeta, thank you very much, I share your fascination for Lahiri's work since reading 'Whereabouts' and truly look forward to read more by her - her themes that you so astutely put forth here also intrigue me, and her intense awareness of language and its relation with identity makes me wish she would write essays as well (maybe she did!) . I am not sure if I would dare to recommend the film to the film connoisseur that you are, you might not enjoy it much. I loved the acting of the actors playing the part of the parents, which reflected the tenderness with which Lahiri evokes them in the novel, but as a whole the film is less subtle than the book and added a few dialogues that made me cringe because they turned powerful sequences in the novel too maudlin to my taste.
Interesting that you were more interested in the parents, Ilse. I saw the film, but never read this.
