The Names: A Novel

Another propulsive and immersive read! As some of the reviewers noted - this was unputdownable - I was completely absorbed by the characters, shifting narrator voices and "what if" timelines running in parallel throughout - this book had me catching my breath, reading furiously for discovery and slowly to catch all the details - had my heart soaring, breaking, aching, and was incredibly emotive (the tears are inevitable...) - my favorite character was Julian - gentle, vulnerable and a sensitive creative - and the most surprising ending was Gordon's - incredibly humbling and a satisfying dose of redemption - so many feels...so much to sift through....

I only kept reading hoping the plot would get better. It did not. The book is very depressing and didn’t have as much meaning and deep reflection as the summary suggested.

The way the author wove together this story and the idea that one moment/action could split your lifeline into different directions was so unique. The reaction to naming the first born son in a family of three gives 3 different timelines where each chapter is named after the naming of the son. Confusing at first, but once you get in the groove, it is so impactful that you constantly consider nature vs nutur and the effects we have on one another. The description of "what is in a name" seems so unclear at first but is perfection at the end.