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Liked It2 of 2 members found this review helpful “The book takes us on a journey with Ashima, the new bride who marries a professor working in New England and leaves her home and family in Calcutta as he did when he went for his studies, for a life with him in the faraway land and making a home there. |
Didn’t Like It2 of 2 members found this review helpful “This book was o.k., it was just a little anti-climactic. When it ended I felt like "that's it?"” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“This is a tricky one to review. On the one hand it gave me an insight I've never had into the issues those from an Indian culture face when they assimilate into a Western culture and I found that really interesting. On the other hand it was slow and repetitive in parts. I get that the whole accidental naming of Gogol represented his two selves (Indian and American) but the character's obsession with his name was irritating after a while. I found the characters of his parents fascinating (Ashima and Ashoke) and sympathised with their children Gogol and Sonia who tried to shed evidence of their Indian background in order to fit in with their teenaged peers. Jhumpa Lahiri gets this across really well. The book I had read just before starting this one was "Behind the beautiful forevers" which was about the Anawadi slum on the outskirts of the Mumbai airport and it was a hard act to follow. Maybe I would have rated this book better if I hadn't just read that one.”
Kinz wrote this review 2 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“when i started i didnt like the author's style of writing. found it too vague and aimless. but this grew on me slowly and i began enjoying this style. i liked the characters. i thought the book was a clear and honest description on indian immigrants in the USA. could even identify with it. but on the whole and when i finished it, i felt dissatisfied because i felt there was no point to the whole stoary, no reason to write it, no message to send out.”
Anuja G wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“very boring....”
maryam wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I'm so torn on what to give this novel for a rating. It's good but just so...average. I was mildly interested and wanted to know what happened to Gogol (not to mention I was really rooting for him and Moushumi to work out) but it was so anticlimactic. I can look at any person at 30 today and see they have gone through the same thing. There was no reinventing of the wheel here, or even a tune up.”
Andrea G wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Excellent read. A story of an immigrant family - from Calcutta to America. The author writes in detail how their lives are changed when immigrating to a new country while they try to keep their Bengali traditions in tact for the sake of family. Story is rich in descriptive detail, as each member travels their individual journey, being American and Indian at the same time. ”
Claudette M wrote this review 4 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Good read first book from this author. Liked it.. book is engrossing enough to keep you reading till the last page”
Prasad wrote this review Friday, April 13, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Very interesting insight into the isolation felt by and Indian woman whose small family moved to the US causing her to be separated from her large supportive family in India. Beautifully written”
Sallyhalle wrote this review Saturday, April 7, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Loved the story of Gogol and his growing up in America, stuck between two cultures.”
Daman B wrote this review Friday, April 6, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Made me want to read Gogol.”
Bryce wrote this review Monday, March 26, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Jhumpa Lahiri crafts a story discussing the ties that bind us across cultures and through the generations. A truly beautiful story with times of triumph and times of sorrow. :) New Favorite!
Zachary S wrote this review Saturday, March 31, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Read for Class:
Ethnic Literature, Professor Kathleen Quimby
Spring 2012”
