We read this years ago, but recently purchased this copy for my partner's mother. She read it and now it's time to pass it on.

Sending as an RABCK to ravencat. Enjoy!

What a great Rabck surprise! Thanks so much2of3Rs.

From the Pulitzer Prize author Jhumpa Lahiri comes this deeply moving story of the Ganguli family which takes them from their traditional life in Calcutta, India to Cambridge, Massachusetts where Ashoke Ganguli is a student at MIT and is trying to adapt to life in the States while his young wife Ashima is lonely for her life and family in India. When their son, Gogol, is born, the task of naming him becomes a betrayal of respecting the old ways of following tradition. As the story progresses, we follow the life of Gogol and his family with their struggles in respecting old ways in a new world and the meaning of life in both.

This was a enjoyable well-written story which provided a wonderful perspective on the struggles of ethnicity and the agony of "belonging" in a new world.

Thank-you 2of3Rs for sending this book my way!

**Update** 18 FEB 2013
Bookray now underway. Please check link before sending to next participant as shipping order may have changed due to add on or to mailing preference. Last person on list is free to do what they wish with the book.

1. vassilka(Greece/EU ship)
2. carmendoran(Switz/EU ship)
3. Blue_berry(UK/EU ship)
4. Tubereader(Belgium/Spain/EU ship)
5. Icila(France/Intl ship)
6. valpete(US/Intl ship) <~~~~Book finished and wild released

On its way to vassilka in Greece as part of Intl. bookray.

I received it today! Thank you ravencat for the book and for the bookmark as well:-) I'm in the middle of another bookring and one more is waiting for me but don't worry, I read quickly.

I love reading books about India and this is the second book I read by Jhumpa Lhiri. The first one was again another bookring ("The interpreter of maladies"). This one is a moving story about two generations of an Indian family who lives and raises the children in the USA. The main character is Gogol, the son. Gogol struggles to belong somewhere because he doesn't feel at ease when he is in India as he was born and raised in the USA but he doesn't feel 100% american either-although that's what he wants- because of his Indian background. There is a always a gap between him and his parents, something lacks in his relationships. This is the story of his identity and his trip to maturity. There were times I felt pity for Gogol, other times he made me feel angry with his behavior. It is certainly a book that puts you in thoughts.
I didn't know the way Indians name their children, I found very interesting the fact they give them a name but they use the nickname for the rest of their lives!
One thing that tired me was the use of the third person in the narration which I can understand that it is a clever "trick" from the writer, nevertheless it took me almost half the book to get used to it!

Sorry for the delay. I had finished the book some time ago but family matters prevented me from sending it sooner. Since it's Saturday today I'll send it first thing Monday morning.

Off to carmendoran in England. Happy reading carmendoran!:-)

Just received this book in the post along with a lovely postcard and some Greek tea - THANKS! Looking forward to reading it.

Really enjoyed this book. I think the author did a great job in showing the merging of the US and Indian cultures in a very 'real' way. Will post it off to the next on the list at the weekend - enjoy!

Posted today and on it's way down to Surrey

Received with thanks! I have just started another book, which is rather thick, so this will be next, I try not to hold this up.

***********

I enjoyed this book, which was thought provoking and had interesting characters. I had trouble liking Gogol but that might have been intended; I felt for his parents much more.
Thank you for sharing!

Sending to Tubereader, who is the next one on the list, enjoy!

Book received with thanks! I have a couple of rings / rays ahead of it but will start reading as soon as possible!

Quick note to let everybody know that I am starting to read this book today.

Sorry for the delay!

It was safely waiting for me at home. Summer holidays are soon finished and I hope I'll have more reading time.

It was an interesting reading. I think the matter applies to every people who don't feel belonging either raised in a foreign culture or lacking strong roots.
Thanks for sharing.

I'll put The interpreter of maladies on my wishlist.

On its way to Valpete in USA.

Thanks so much! I have read the Interpreter of Maladies and like it very much, so I look forward to reading this one, too. I do have a couple of other Rings ahead of this one, so it may take me a little while. Give me a nudge if I'm taking too long.

I've just finished reading it. It was an excellent book...so happy I had the opportunity to read it.

I'll PM the next reader.

The last person on the list has already read this book. I'll try to find someone who has it on the Wishlist.

Enjoy!

Thank you valpete for the wild release of this book and hoping it continues it's travels!