Welcome friend! For this first reading pause, I spent time with pages 1–44 of The Names. As I move through the book in sections, I’m noting what stands out in the story and what thoughts or moments in life arise alongside it. Let’s start with what happened in the book in these pages.
In the Book:
I started The Names today and read the prologue that takes place in October 1987 and the three ways it could have unfolded.
Cora has been instructed by her physician husband to register the name of their newborn son. Since there was a storm and school is out, Cora takes her daughter, Maia, with her. Gordon is abusive and a narcissist. Cora does not want to give his name to their son. Names seem to define people and she wants him to make his own path rather than follow his father.
The Names portrays three versions of the events. In the first, Cora names her son Bear on the recommendation of her nine year old daughter. She makes sure that Maia is not in the house when she tells Gordon, knowing very well that it would provoke his anger. She is right and the day ends in him being arrested and assaulting a neighbour who comes to answer her cries of help.
In the second version, she names him Julian, a name that shares the same meaning as Gordon. At dinner, Cora notices how Maia soothes her father into accepting the name and she realizes that she does not want this life for her daughter – to hide who she is and do things to please her father to keep his anger at bay. She commits to making a change, getting away from this life and offering a better one to her children.
In the third version, Cora names their son Gordon. The decision weighs heavily on her and though she hates herself and her husband, she finds her anger directed towards her baby. She experiences postpartum depression even though her husband does not acknowledge it. She starts to disassociate and have out of body experiences. She continues on with her life without making any changes. This version gave a history of Cora and how she met Gordon. As a dancer who moved from Ireland in her early teens, she doesn’t have any family here. Getting out of her marriage would need a lot of courage.
Reflection on the Story so Far:
Cora’s small act of changing her son’s name, whether it is Julian or Bear, has great repercussions. She notices how her daughter is learning to navigate her parents. She starts to want and gather courage for a better life. I am liking the style in which Cora narrates and look forward to seeing how each character will develop.
A Quote:
Isn’t she just teaching her daughter that keeping the peace is more important than doing what’s right?
The Names, pg 7
Thoughts:
It’s amazing how much a child absorbs from their home environment. Cora can see the subtle ways in which Maia functions around her dad, the way her smiles disappear or voice gets quiet. Cora herself will do anything to keep her children from being harmed by her husband. But the question truly comes down to is this the way to live?
In My Life:
It was a Sunday that flew by. Like Cora, I had my own act of courage without a lot of thought. I put many of my teaching books on marketplace to sell. These books have been with me since 2019 and though I planned to read them all and apply them to my classroom, I never did. I chose not be become a teacher after my program. Those two years were the best of my education life and I discovered my love for writing then which ultimately led to book reviewing.
Embarking on a new chapter in life – motherhood – is a good time to close an old chapter. It just felt right to start the process to give books away, whether anyone buys them or not, the act of listing was the hardest and most important.
Closing for the day now – I felt both the weight of Cora’s choices and the lightness of my own release. I know her life ahead will not be easy, no matter the name of her son. I’m rooting for her. Life is messy and not everything comes with a clear reward.
See you at the next pause after reading pages 45-88. 🙂
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