The Names
A Novel
by Florence Knapp
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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 the birth of her son. Her husband, Gordon, respected in the community but a controlling presence at home, intends for her to follow a long-standing family tradition and name the baby after him. But when faced with the decision, Cora hesitates....
Spanning thirty-five years, what follows are three alternate and alternating versions of their lives, shaped by Cora's last-minute 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 for autonomy and healing.
Through a prism of what-ifs, Florence Knapp invites us to consider the "one ... precious life" we are given. 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.
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The Names: A Novel
2025, Pamela Dorman / Viking
Hardcover
in English
- First United States edition
0593833902 9780593833902
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De namen: Hoe je heet, kan je hele leven bepalen...
May 13, 2025, HarperCollins Holland
Paperback
in Dutch
9402716858 9789402716856
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Book Details
First Sentence
"Cora's mother always used to say children were whipped up by the wind, that even the quiet ones would come in after playtime made wild by it."
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