The Names: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel

ISBN: 0593833902

Author: Knapp, Florence

Condition: New

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AND READ WITH JENNA PICK-A WORD-OF-MOUTH HIT THAT BEGS TO BE SHAREDLONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDALDazzling. -The Washington PostA magnificent novel. -Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of HorseThe 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, 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 Coras 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 of 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 loves endless capacity to endure, no matter what fate has in store.The books brilliantly imaginative structure, propulsive storytelling, and emotional power are certain to make The Names a modern classic.