Morning Headlines: Andrew Cuomo Leads NYC Mayoral Poll Without Running, NJ Population Growth Surges, and NY Public Library Acquires Jhumpa Lahiri Archive

The Namesake follows the lives of Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli, who immigrate from Kolkata to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Their son, Gogol, named after the Russian author Nikolai Gogol, grapples with his dual identity as an American and a Bengali. The novel delves into themes of cultural identity, family traditions, and the challenges of balancing two distinct worlds. It chronicles Gogol's journey through his childhood, education, relationships, and eventual marriage, highlighting the tensions and reconciliations within his family and his own sense of self.

Published in 1999, 'Interpreter of Maladies' is Jhumpa Lahiri's debut short story collection, which won the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN/Hemingway Award. The book comprises nine stories that offer deep insights into the lives of characters navigating cultural identities, family dynamics, and personal struggles. The title story, 'Interpreter of Maladies,' follows an Indian tour guide who becomes emotionally entangled with an Indian-American family during their visit to India, highlighting themes of loneliness and the quest for emotional connection. Other stories in the collection, such as 'The Treatment of Bibi Haldar,' explore complex social and personal issues with nuanced and empathetic storytelling.