This Debut Novel Makes a Great Read for the Early New Year

⚓ Books    📅 2026-01-16    👤 surdeus    👁️ 1      

surdeus

As we entered 2026, I spent a lot of time reflecting on the choices I’ve made and the unexpected events that have shaped who I am and where I am at this point in my life. That thinking made this the perfect time to pick up Florence Knapp’s debut novel, which explores how the decisions we make impact our lives and those around us. Even a decision as seemingly innocuous as choosing a name can have significant consequences.

cover image The Names

The Names by Florence Knapp

During the Great Storm of 1987 in England, a woman named Cora gave birth to a baby boy. (Quick aside: I did the research, which would make this baby a Libra.) As Cora and her nine-year-old daughter, Maia, set off to officially register the baby’s name, mother and daughter discuss the matter of the baby boy’s name. Cora’s husband Gordon insists that the child be named Gordon to maintain the long-held tradition in his family. But Cora wishes to offer her son an opportunity to step out of his father’s shadow and perhaps not perpetuate the dark, abusive nature of Gordon and the other men in his family.

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