Posted on September 01, 2009 by Nayab Naseer

The Namesake, originally a novella was later expanded into full scale novel and became Jhumpa Lahiri’s second novel, and an international bestseller, receiving the 2000 Putzler prize for fiction.

The book deals with the cross cultural and multi-generational story of a Bengali family from Calcutta who migrates to Boston, an traces their journey towards self-acceptance in Boston, dealing with the vivid experiences pertaining to clash of cultures and lifestyles, and the disorientation that comes in its wake. The book especially deals with the clash between the traditions of respecting the family versus the American way of life.

Jhumpa Lahiri excels in his eye for detail, and the depth of emotions while dealing with the lives of the immigrant family.The New York Times reviews the book as “A debut novel that is as assured and eloquent as the work of a longtime master of the craft.” This is a novel of identity, and one of the best in its group.