"A triple-spoked exploration of the power of a name"
This novel is a triple-spoked narrative exploring parallel realities born from a single, quietly radical choice: the name a mother registers for her newborn son.
Trapped in an abusive marriage, Cora fears that choosing her violent husband’s name, Gordon, might set her child on a path toward becoming like his father. Instead, she wavers between her own gentler alternative, Julian, and her nine-year-old daughter’s tender, hopeful suggestion: Bear. From this moment, the novel splits into three distinct storylines, each unfolding according to the name bestowed.
Knapp plays deftly with nomenclature; every character’s name subtly reflects their personality, their trajectory, or their function within the story, reinforcing the idea that names carry both weight and possibility. The depictions of abuse are harrowing yet handled with care, particularly in their exploration of why so many abused spouses remain.
Equally resonant is Knapp’s portrayal of those on the periphery, well-meaning outsiders who offer sympathy or advice but ultimately continue with their own lives, rarely fully stepping in.
The book closes with a quietly beautiful twist that underscores its central theme: the infinite possibilities contained within a single choice, and the many lives that might unfold from it.
Tomorrow - if morning comes, if the storm stops raging - Cora will register the name of her son. Or perhaps, and this is her real concern, she'll formalise who he will become.
| Primary Genre | Modern and Contemporary Fiction |
| Other Genres: |
Tomorrow - if morning comes, if the storm stops raging - Cora will register the name of her son. Or perhaps, and this is her real concern, she'll formalise who he will become.
The Names features in the following genres: Family Drama, General Fiction, Literary Fiction, Modern and Contemporary Fiction, Domestic abuse, Violence and abuse in society
Paperback, Hardback. £9.89, down from the £10.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Names was written by Florence Knapp and published by Phoenix an imprint of Orion
The Names has 343 pages
£9.89, reduced from £10.99. In Stock.
