#113 in Science fiction
The Names
- 352
- Pages
- about 6 h
- Reading time
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Our view
“The Names” builds a moving debut on one idea: a single choice of name, followed down three different lives. In 1987 Cora goes to register her baby son, whose father expects the boy to bear his own name, and the novel imagines what follows from each of three names. Some readers find the amount of domestic violence hard to bear and put the book aside. Thoughtful and in the end hopeful, it suits those prepared for that subject.
The view of the BookRank editors, written from readers’ ratings and comments. It does not affect the score or the book’s place in a ranking.
About the book
A once-in-a-generation debut from a major new talent, The Names is the story of three names, three versions of a life, and the infinite possibilities that a single decision can spark. 'I've just been blown away by the best debut novel in years . . . A genius idea for a book' Sunday Times 'Wildly original and emotionally profound' Observer 'An unadulterated success: moving, evocative and utterly convincing' The Times THE PHENOMENAL SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER OVER HALF A MILLION COPIES SOLD It is 1987, and in the wake of a great storm, Cora sets out with her young daughter to register the birth of her son. Her husband expects her to follow tradition and call the baby after him - but is it right for her child to inherit his name from generations of domineering men? Her choice will shape the course of their lives. Seven years later, her son is Bear, a name chosen by his sister, hoping he will grow up to be brave and big-hearted. Or he is Julian, the name his mother set her heart on, keen for 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.
Where the score comes from
The sources average 8.6 across 139 ratings — not yet many, so the reader vote carries 49% of the weight and the rest pulls toward the Science fiction average of 7.8. That is how 8.2 comes out.
| Source | Average | Ratings | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardcover | 8.6 | 139 | 100% |
Frequently asked
How long is The Names?
It has 352 pages — shorter than 71% of the ranked books in Science fiction.
In this book
Themes this book shares with others — each leads to the best books on it.
If you liked this
The same shelf — Science fiction — and a score of 8.2, the closest to this book.
