The Names: A Read with Jenna Pick

A Novel

De: Florence Knapp

Narrado por: Dervla Kirwan

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

Absolutely Stunning – A Haunting, Beautiful Listen

The Names completely blew me away. It’s been a long time since a book affected me this deeply. Gut-wrenching and painful at times, yes—but there’s something undeniably beautiful in the premise, the writing style, and the way the story unfolds. It lingers.

The narrator does a phenomenal job—so nuanced, so in tune with the emotional undercurrents of the story. I felt every pause, every shift in tone, like it was breathing life into the text. It made the experience all the more immersive.

This isn’t a book you just listen to—it’s one you feel in your bones. Highly recommend to anyone who appreciates literary fiction that challenges, moves, and stays with you long after it ends.

Unique and thought provoking

I loved everything about this book. Couldn’t stop listening. The reader is reminded that choices we make in life can alter the course we are on but that these choices each have positives and negatives instead of any being absolutely “right”.

Confusing and Gratuitously Painful

This book is completely impossible to follow to the point of being sloppy. It also relies entirely too heavily on the DV themes- it’s just excessive emphasis on DV scene after DV scene. It’s a cheap trick and she does it repeatedly to keep interest in otherwise woefully underdeveloped characters and story. Felt like she woke up one day and thought “hm, the book is really short- let me bulk it up with excruciating and repetitive scenes of violence instead of just the 2-3 necessary to make the point .” I stopped 3/4 way through and I am not even triggered by DV personally. I just got bored with this lazy tactic.

Unique and incredible.

Such incredible thoughtful writing. Unique story, beautiful and sad and hopeful. Bravo.
Excellent narration with various accents and pace and phrasing.

great reader

awesome book kept my attention I felt sadness joy and scared for their mother. I feel she find a happy ending goal very bad marriage.