This compelling book left me with a mix of dread and resilience. The story is driven by a unique structure: three separate narrative threads follow the possible lives of a son, each based on one of the three names his Irish mother, Cora, might have given him--Bear, Julian, or Gordon. The chapters alternate between these three names, exploring how each name influences the family dynamic, from everyday moments to acts of shocking violence.
The brutal reality of domestic violence within the story filled me with dread, making me anxious about each shift in perspective. The lasting impact of this abuse on the family is felt for years. Yet, the novel's hopefulness serves as a powerful counterbalance. Watching the family's lives intertwine and evolve across the three threads was an absorbing experience.
The audio narration is exceptionally well done.
From the publisher:
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.
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