‘The story of three names, three versions of a life,
and the infinite possibilities that a single decision can spark.’
– The Names
[ About The Names ]
It is 1987, and in the aftermath of a great storm, Cora sets out with her nine-year-old daughter to register the birth of her son. Her husband intends for her to follow a long-standing family tradition and call the baby after him. But when faced with the decision, Cora hesitates. Going against his wishes is a risk that will have consequences, but is it right for her child to inherit his name from generations of domineering men? The choice she makes in this moment will shape the course of their lives.
Seven years later, her son is Bear, a name chosen by his sister, and one that will prove as cataclysmic as the storm from which it emerged. Or he is Julian, the name his mother set her heart on, believing it will enable him to become his own person. Or he is Gordon, named after his father and raised in his cruel image – but is there still a chance to break the mould?
Powerfully moving and full of hope, this is the story of three names, three versions of a life, and the infinite possibilities that a single decision can spark. It is the story of one family, and love’s endless capacity to endure, no matter what fate has in store.
[ My Review ]
The Names by Florence Knapp publishes today, May 6th, with Phoenix (Orion) and is described as ‘a once-in-a-generation debut from a major new talent’.
With its most original premise, The Names is quite a remarkable debut that explores how a name given at birth can influence the trajectory of the path one takes in life. When Cora set off to register her new baby boy, she pushes the pram alongside her little girl Maia. It is 1987 and, as they walk to the birth registration office, there is scant evidence of the storm that battered the community the night before. Both her husband and father-in-law carry the name Gordon but it’s not a name that particularly appeals to Cora for a multitude of reasons. Cora is not enamoured with the future that is being presented for her son so she considers what might happen if she just accepted the wrath of her husband and selected the name of her choosing or one Maia might choose.
The Names takes the reader through three different what-if scenarios following three different paths. What if Cora registered her son as Gordon? What if Cora registered her son as Julian? Or what if she registered her son as Bear, Maia’s choice? Three different journeys, three very alternate lives lived.
Jumping forward in seven year blocks, Julian, Bear and Gordon slowly grow and develop into young men and adults. Cora and Maia are very much impacted by this young man’s evolution and the chapters provide insights into their world and how their personal stories unveil. The one aspect of the novel that remains true across all versions is that of Gordon, Cora’s husband and his controlling and domineering personality. Gordan is not a nice man. Behind the veneer of a well-respected GP, he is tyrannical presence in the family home, leaving fear in his wake. This fractious dynamic is explored through three differing lenses, each providing insights into an alternative life for Cora and her children.
Florence Knapp has created a sliding doors moment, exploring how one seemingly innocuous decision can have a rippling effect, creating unforeseen and widespread repercussions. Can our destiny truly be affected by our birth name? What weight does our name carry as we move through our lives? With strong and very emotive themes highlighted throughout each scenario, Florence Knapp provides outstanding and extremely vivid portraitures of Julian, Bear and Gordon, and all the supporting cast. It is a testament to the quality of the writing that propels the reader through the chapters in such an immersive fashion.
The Names offers a genuinely innovative, moving and memorable reading experience. A battering read at times, with undeniably heartwrenching scenes, it is also a novel full of beauty and hope, love and understanding, as it delves into the complexity of naming a child and the consequences that can unfold like the domino effect. What is in a name? You will need to read this exceptional debut from Florence Knapp as she unveils the possibilities, the what-ifs. A seriously quality debut, one not to be missed and most definitely one that will be central to many book-club discussions in 2025.
[Thank you to Hachette Ireland for a copy of The Names in exchange for my honest review]
[ Bio ]
Florence Knapp has previously written a non-fiction book about a centuries-old method of quilt making, as well as contributing to a book for the V&A Museum. She lives just outside London with her husband and their dog. Their two children have now flown the nest. The Names is Florence’s debut novel and will be translated into more than twenty languages.
