In Jhumpa Lahiri's novel The Namesake, Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli emigrate to the United States from India. Not long after they arrive, their first child is born—a son. According to Bengali tradition, a respected family member is given the naming privilege, but in the case of this immigrant family, the grandmother's letter never arrives. There is a cultural clash from the beginning. In India, the naming of a child is a warm, family-oriented and leisurely affair. In America, bureaucracy demands that baby not be released from hospital without a name on his birth certificate. Luckily, Indian tradition allows for a pet or nickname to be chosen. The parents choose the name Gogol after the Russian writer, Nikolai Gogol.

This Bookclub-in-a-Box guide includes information on the following:

• Why is the namesake of an American-born child with Bengali roots a famous, but disturbed, Russian author?
• How do our names impact on who we are and who we become?
• Lahiri explores the impact of immigration on both the parents and the children.
• How do Lahiri's skills as a short-story writer influence her presentation of the story?
• This novel has been made into a wonderful film with the same name from director Mira Nair.

Every Bookclub-in-a-Box PDF discussion guide includes complete coverage of the themes and symbols, writing style and interesting background information on the novel and the author.

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