The Names: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel (Unabridged)
-
-
2.7 • 3 Ratings
-
-
- $21.99
Publisher Description
THE YEAR'S BREAKOUT NOVEL AND WORD-OF-MOUTH HIT—A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AND READ WITH JENNA PICK
“Dazzling. . . Knapp tirelessly and beautifully replicates not just loss and grief but endless rebirth and delight.” —The Washington Post
“Elegant. . . this is a wholly original work.” —People Magazine
“A magnificent novel.” —Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Horse
The extraordinary novel that asks: Can a name change the course of a life?
In the wake of a catastrophic storm, Cora sets off with her nine-year-old daughter, Maia, to register her son's birth. Her husband, Gordon, a local doctor, respected in the community but a terrifying and controlling presence at home, intends for her to name the infant after him. But when the registrar asks what she'd like to call the child, Cora hesitates...
Spanning thirty-five years, what follows are three alternate and alternating versions of Cora's and her young son's lives, shaped by her choice of name. In richly layered prose, The Names explores the painful ripple effects of domestic abuse, the messy ties of family, and the possibilities of autonomy and healing.
With exceptional sensitivity and depth, Knapp draws us into the story of one family, told through a prism of what-ifs, causing us to consider the "one . . . precious life" we are given. The book’s brilliantly imaginative structure, propulsive storytelling, and emotional, gut-wrenching power are certain to make The Names a modern classic.
LONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Florence Knapp offers three very different glimpses of a family struggling with abuse in this shocking, poignant story. Cora is married to Gordon, a well-respected doctor who’s cold and violent behind closed doors. Gordon insists their newborn son be named after him, but Cora wants a name that doesn’t commemorate his cruelty. As she imagines what the boy’s life might look like if he were named Bear, Julian, or Gordon, we witness three different, Sliding Doors–like scenarios envisioning him as an archeologist, a jewelry maker, and a tech bro. All three narratives are enthralling, each speaking distinctively to the pain and resilience of this dysfunctional family. Knapp also fills the stories with a rich cast of characters who grabbed us with their own dramatic arcs, and Dervla Kirwan’s narration highlights everything that makes this story special, giving unique vocal personalities to these individuals and honouring their well-drawn qualities, good or bad. The Names is a moving story about caring and survival.
