Namesake

I felt magically gripped by this book. Even the movie didnt get me so engrossed (though it impressed me enough to make me pick this book up the next time I was at Landmark. It took me a lot of time browsing in the store before i gave up and went to the help desk and excused myself and even before mentioning the name of what i was looking for found it perched right behind the attendant)

Though a lot of people were fairly impressed with the book, a lot of people also onveyed me their dislike or the book. looking back at what really i liked in the book i found that the first thing that grabbed my attention was Ashima Ganguly. one of my friends pointed out that probably she reminds me of my own mom, and thats what is making me like this book and character. I somehow wanted to accept it as truth. Ashima happens to be a middle class housewife consistantly trying to adjust with the outside world and its culture and trying to bridge the culture gap between her and her children.

The next interesting character being the one of Gogol and his accident with his name and his continuous struggle to run away from himself and be someone different in a different world where noone recognises his older self. apparently even the character Moushumi shares the same character. I somehow couldn't resist myself assosiating myself from this character, always trying to run away from myself.

Also, the smooth way in which the story progressed was really impressive. it didnt give me an opportunity to want to put the book aside for a break

I have a kind of nice feeling at the end of it and wish it never ended and went on...