The Namesake (I)

I just finished reading an amazing book - "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri. The way she writes has ensorcelled (just learned that word) me. She writes about ordinary events with such vivid description and details that I feel like she is experiencing what she is writing as she is writing. Perhaps I feel connected to this book also because I can relate to the main character's trials and tribulations as an "ABCD." But I just can't get over how well she writes. I feel like Mrs. Lahiri has lived each of her characters lives fully and completely before writing. I don't understand how she can know so well what a 20-something year old Indian kid growing up in America feels and thinks.

Another thing that impresses me is her ability to describe the Indian-American culture without describing the Indian-American culture. By simply describing the events in the characters' lives, she reveals to the reader what its like being Indian-American. It reminds me a lot of a book I read called "Norweigan Wood" by Haruki Murakami. I learned so much about Japanese culture from his writing which basically went through the mind of the main character without focusing on Japanese culture.

I'm not sure I am making much sense with all of this. All I know is that "The Namesake" is a fantastic book. I plan to write more entries about it in the near future.