Gogol is the central character in the novel, and although the narration occasionally focuses on other perspectives, his is the viewpoint that narratively structures the book. Born in America of Indian Bengali parents in 1968, Gogol bears the name of a Russian writer whose book his father believes once saved his life. As a child, Gogol is obedient and quiet. His only moment of rebellion comes as he starts kindergarten; his parents decide to change his name to a more traditional Nikhil. This event is significant in Gogol’s life because he will soon learn to despise his name once he has realized how unusual it is. The scene in the cemetery where his class is doing gravestone rubbings poignantly addresses the boy’s sense of identification with the rarer, ancient names on old gravestones.

Gogol suffers from a sense of unbelonging and displacement because of his Bengali heritage, yet he focuses his frustration on the Russian name that seemingly does not connect him with anything real in his life or family. This comes as a consequence of his father not sharing the story of the name with his son, thereby depriving Gogol of the opportunity to find deeper meaning in the name and connect it to his family lore.