First, some background: The Names is a clever, imaginative debut that will make you and your book club ponder a plethora of questions and issues. When the book opens in 1987, Cora’s husband Gordon has reminded her to register the name of their baby son. She takes her nine-year-old daughter Maia and the baby to the registrar and along the way Maia suggests the name Bear because the baby is soft and cuddly. Gordon expects the baby to be named after him as is tradition in his family. Cora usually acquiesces to Gordon, a highly respected doctor who abuses her, but Cora loves the name Julian and would like to choose it. The first chapter shows Cora making three decisions. First, she names him Bear. After that she registers him as Julian and finally, she calls him Gordon as directed. The following chapters, appearing every seven years, show the impact of the different names.
When Cora names the baby Gordon, their lives take one trajectory with her cowering and suffering under her husband’s abuse. When she names him Julian, the abuse is still real but has different consequences. When she selects the name Bear, things change yet again.
This is a powerful look at abuse and resilience and it’s a compelling page-turner. However, you need to carefully juggle the three stories to see the nuances in their lives and to track what’s happening to the characters in each scenario. I suggest making a cheat sheet in the first chapter with three sections—one for each of the chosen names. Under those headings, list what the characters are doing at the time. I didn’t do this until a few chapters in and I ended up returning to the book’s beginning to keep it all straight. Once I had my sheet, I could concentrate on the brilliant plotting, the influence of abuse on others in the family, and the nuances of decision making when in an abusive relationship. I also suggest, that you note the ages of Maia and her brother in each scenario to better understand their actions and that of their parents, their grandmother, and others in the novel. This is not a book I suggest for audio. Keeping the characters straight could be more difficult on audio and hearing the scenes of abuse would have been too much for me.
Summing it Up: The Names is a caring, cleverly plotted debut that manages to keep from being gimmicky despite the premise. It’s both a devastating read and one that’s deeply satisfying. It’s the perfect vehicle for a deep book discussion as long as you make sure the subject isn’t triggering for any participants. Some of the depictions of domestic abuse are so realistic that they can be difficult to read, so make sure your group knows each other well before selectng it. It offers rewarding insights that make it worth delving into the topic.
Rating: 4 Stars
Publication Date: May 6, 2025
Categories: Fiction, Grandma’s Pot Roast, Sweet Bean Paste, Book Club
Author Website: https://www.florenceknapp.com/
Reading Group Guide: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/768706/the-names-a-read-with-jenna-pick-by-florence-knapp/
What Others Are Saying:
Booklist: https://www.booklistonline.com/products/9804021
Kirkus Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/florence-knapp/the-names-2/
The Observer: https://observer.co.uk/culture/books/article/the-names-florence-knapp-review
Publishers Weekly: http://www.publishersweekly.com/9780593833902
The Times (UK): https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/the-names-florence-knapp-review-gwhfjmpgl