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The
Namesake: A Novel
~ Jhumpa Lahiri
When I read for pleasure,
it's almost always fiction. I see it as a way to 'live
in someone else's world', and a way to learn about the
life experiences of others, particularly those different
from my own.
Due in part to the international nature of science, and
most of our laboratories, I have lately been attracted to
books that center around the immigrant experience. My favorite
in this regard is The Namesake. It is a beautifully
written yet simple story of immigrant parents and their
American children - the
challenges of maintaining their cultural heritage and
identity, and yet fitting into their new homeland. It
also describes the struggles between parents and children,
where the children may want to get as far as possible
from the things their parents value, and yet, with time,
return to these with their own acceptance.
Since my children are still in grade school, we have not
yet reached this stage, but I know that it will come, and
I hope by understanding that they need to find their own
way, I will be able to fully support them through that process.
Photos by:
Dwight Bennett
& Ned Davis
HSC Libraries
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