Q4 Week 6 Posts A/B

Post A
As the book is coming an end the cultural differences are harder and harder to find because of Gogol's increased independence and his breaking away from tradition. But one thing I did notice was a social change. (Talking about Gogol and Moushumi) "They entertain together on occasion, throwing the sorts of parties that their parents never had, mixing martinis in a stainless-steel shaker for a few of the architects at Gogol's work or Moushumi's graduate student friends at NYU. They play bossa nova and serve bread and salami and cheese" (228). I just thought this was interesting because compared to Ashima (Gogol's mom) Gogol himself holds these small parties with not a lot of preparation. He serves very simple food with alcohol. If Ashima was in this exact same moment, she would spend weeks beforehand preparing food and telling hundreds of friends to come. Even more importantly Ashima kept a diary with all the people she ever met in her life and she would invite those people over whereas Gogol and Moushimi just invited a couple friends. So for Ashima it would be this huge public event but for Gogol it's a more private intimate event.

Post B
As I've been reading I've really seen the book start looping around and almost completing the circle. So on that note I thought I would talk about what I've thought so far. Gogol developed so much throughout the book and the thing I find interesting is that he seems to be going back to his origins as the book is coming to an end. By far the most interesting development in Gogol's life has to be Moushumi. Personally she seems really annoying to me for example, "She is depressed by the pair of teen aged Bangladeshi busboys who wear tapestry waistcoats and black trousers, serving them warm bread with silver tongs. It annoys her that the waiter, perfectly attentive, looks neither of them in the eye as he describes the menu, speaking instead to the bottle of mineral water positioned between them. She knows it's too late to change their plans now. But even after they place their order, a part of her has a nagging urge, feels life standing up leaving" (251). Moushumi just seems really spoiled to me. Gogol is madly in love with her and it seems like she doesn't really even care even though their married. She chose this restaurant and now she wants to leave. Throughout the book there are numerous occasions like this that arise with Moushumi. Things even go as far as her having an affair while Gogol is loyal to her and going to work etc.. Ashima even says that she feels guilty for matching Gogol up with her. So I just thought that was interesting when it came to Gogol's life.