The Namesake

I finished The Namesake: Lahiri. I thoroughly enjoyed this book: it was powerful in a way I was not suspecting, and thrilling in a way that seems impossible after you've read the back.

The book is about an Indian man and woman who get married and move to Boston. It details the struggle that each of them face being away from their families, and more so, living in a world that is unfamiliar to them.

She has a baby. This moment is so magical in the book. For the first time in my life I understand how important family will be during this time in a woman's life. I also saw a glimpse of what it means to loose yourself to gain a new self. All in Lahiri's pages are details of this experience, of how one woman copes and, sometimes, does not cope.

As the eldest kid grows up in an Indian family surrounded by other Indian families, he is faced feeling deeply disconnected after going to school and entertaining American life. Eventually the young boy changes his name-- a moment in the book that is too powerful to write about and too deeply emotional to highlight.

The book has many marvelous themes. Any reader can relate to Lahiri's words because we've all felt alone, different, disconnected, or insecure. I had a hard time putting the book down, and when I was done reading I was left wanting to hear more from Lahiri. She is a brilliant wordsmith and I'm glad that I've been introduced to her work.

Read this book. Next stop, see the movie. (I've heard that it's not nearly as good as the book).

Other People's Writing

Being on an airplane at least twice a week lends me some nice, solid reading-time. It seems that every time I'm at the airport I purchase a new book.

Dry: Augusten Burroughs
I really enjoyed this book. If you've read anything by Burroughs, you have to expect to go through a certain roller coaster of emotions. First you laugh and then you cry, but usually you're just shocked. I read Running With Scissors and Possible Side Effects, so I read this book as an expert.

Burroughs always shocks me-- not just because he tells me amazing stories, but also because he has basically no formal education and writes much smarter than me. I found Dry to be particularly moving because fighting addiction is terribly difficult. Burroughs is a sincere writer and Dry was a surprisingly fresh look at addiction.

If you haven't read any Burroughs, I recommend picking up any of his work immediately.


Magical Thinking: Burroughs
So what? I read two Burroughs books in one month. There is something about his voice that makes me feel connected. This book made me laugh so loudly that fellow passengers gave me dirty looks. Magical Thinking, eh? I can relate to that. Or, maybe I wish I could relate to that. Who knows.


A Man Without a Country: Vonnegut
Well, he's dead. I picked up this book surprised that I didn't buy it earlier. Vonnegut will always have a special place in my heart. He taught me that I like to read. He taught me that ice can be scary. He taught me that chapters are allowed to be short and paragraphs don't have to have three sentences.

I really enjoyed this book. It's pretty close to a memoir, and if you're a fan of Vonnegut, this is a nice commute book. Pick it up and bring it on your next subway ride. While the guy next to you is listening to his music too loudly, you can giggle loudly with Vonnegut instead of shooting that guy looks that could kill.

I finished this book on one quick plane ride. I didn't get off the plane until it was practically unloaded and I was in the third row. I had to finish it before I could get up. He's always been that writer for me.


The Namesake: Lahiri
Holy shit! I'm not even done with this book and I know that it will change me forever. I'm at the half-way point and I've cried three times. In all actuality, I have no idea why I cried. Lahiri writes like a goddess and moves me to the core. I feel at home with Lahiri's words. Buy this book immediately.


Diary: Palahniuk
Palahniuk is a unique writer. Each of his books are bizarre in their own right. Diary is no different than the others. This book is as brilliant as it is frightening. If you haven't read any Palahniuk, I wouldn't start with Diary. If you have read some Palahniuk and enjoyed his bizarre stories, this one rates well. Pick it up.


Dune: Herbert
You'd think that a nerd like me would have read this book long ago. I started reading Dune about six months ago. Theo bought me a used paperback and within a few weeks the spine broke. I have read all but the last 75 pages, which is many, many pages. I've heard many people name this book as a favorite and I can understand why. It starts out miserably slow, but by the middle of the book it all makes sense. Reading this book reminds me of how I felt reading The Lighthouse: Woolf. "It's too slow to enjoy.... It's incredible." The switch isn't immediate, but when you realize it's beauty, you forgive and understand the slow start.


I've been reading. In between books I watch many movies. I want to talk about some of them here, but you have to give me some time. When I've read too many books to talk about any of them in full, I'll do a book post again.

Any questions?