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Title: A star or two more, if expectations weren't so high
Review: Perhaps Lahiri's talents are more suited to the short story. The origin and continuing tale of how Gogol both got and related to his name is beautifully formed. The ending is particularly moving. Likewise, the evolution of this family as a whole is convincing and touching. However, I didn't find a single individual character, including Gogol, to be compelling. They were often more defined by their immigrant status than any aspect of self-invention. A certain determinism seemed to drive their actions. Add that to a preponderance of list-like details, especially in the realm of food, and, for me, The Namesake was ultimately disappointing.
