Finished: The Names (Knapp) What a good book! Cora, the wife of a respected doctor, is emotionally and physically abused by her husband. She and her nine year old daughter, Maia, live in stress and fear of what will set him off. When her new baby is born, a son, Cora sets off to register the baby as officially born and give him a name. Her husband, Gordon, insists the boy be named afer him, and his father before him. Maia, an intuitive and caring little girl, thinks they should name him Bear. Cora only dreams of naming him something other than Gordon, but knows she doesn't dare name him the name she loves, Julian. This is a brilliant story that moves along in seven year gaps, where we see how the lives of Cora, Maia and the baby turn out if she had named him each of the names: Gordon, Bear and Julian. The physical and emotional abuse in this book is alarming and will most certainly trigger people who have been through similar experiences. Honestly, a stunning, emotional story of mother/child bonds, sister/brother bonds, and incredible resilience, love and sacrifice. 

Amazon Blurb:

"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 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 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 love’s endless capacity to endure, no matter what fate has in store."