The Names by Florence Knapp
Description
It is 1987, and in the aftermath of a great storm, Cora sets out with her nine-year-old daughter to register the birth of her son. Her husband intends for her to follow a long-standing family tradition and call the baby after him. But when faced with the decision, Cora hesitates. Going against his wishes is a risk that will have consequences, but is it right for her child to inherit his name from generations of domineering men? The choice she makes in this moment will shape the course of their lives.
Seven years later, her son is Bear, a name chosen by his sister, and one that will prove as cataclysmic as the storm from which it emerged. Or he is Julian, the name his mother set her heart on, believing it will enable him to become his own person. Or he is Gordon, named after his father and raised in his cruel image – but is there still a chance to break the mould?
Powerfully moving and 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.
Borrow from the library, listen on Audible, or buy from an independent bookshop.
This book will be discussed at our meeting on 16 February 2026
Coming soon to the Burton Book Club…
- Don’t let it Break you, Honey, Jenny Evans
- Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir
- Quicksilver, Callie Hart
- V for Victory, Lissa Evans
- Gone before Goodbye, Harlan Coben & Reese Witherspoon
- Give me the Child, Mel McGrath
- The Island of Missing Trees, Elif Shafak
- Remarkable Creatures, Tracy Chevalier
- The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Mark Manson
- The Elopement, Gill Hornby
About Burton Book Club
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