Dazzling ... The novel is really a profound, deeply compassionate examination of domestic abuse ... Despite its bleak setup, The Names is startlingly joyful and paced like a thriller. I raced through it and immediately read it again ... A knowledgeable crafter who’s penned books and articles on quilting, sewing and English paper piecing, Knapp brings an eye for precise detail to her descriptions of domestic spaces and the natural world ... Knapp tirelessly and beautifully replicates not just loss and grief but endless rebirth and delight.
The sort of novel that’s bound to create discussion about the events happening, what they mean and how they relate to one another. It has an ending that’s definitive but also leaves plenty of room for interpretation. And it is guaranteed to make readers reflect about their own lives ... Knapp [has a] gift for insightful, homespun metaphors ... A simple, seemingly unadorned style but insights...pop up frequently. Her choices reassure us that she understands people, which helps The Names transcend a premise that could come off as gimmicky.
A compelling novel that fills one with an actual physical sense of dread, from the first words on the first page, and yet also offers glimpses of whimsy, beauty, and love ... Achieves this balance, highlighting the warmth and wonder of human existence, while weaving a tale of tragedies, ordinary and extraordinary, that befall its characters ... Inventive ... One source of this book’s power is Knapp’s adept use of surprise and suspense.
Strikingly assured ... Knapp’s plotting is skilful, her tapestry of stories cleverly woven ... Stands out as a compelling and original debut, a book that asks at least as many questions as it answers.
A debut appearing with so much hype that early copies arrived here with descriptions of the book as a 'global publishing event' emblazoned on them. And for once, that doesn’t seem to be an exaggeration ... An unadulterated success: moving, evocative and utterly convincing ... It is remarkable how Knapp has managed to make us care equally about each strand of the child’s life ... What’s fascinating too are the things that stay the same in each version ... The depiction of an abusive marriage, for instance, is terrifyingly real ... The Names is not for everyone—at times, it teeters towards an ever so slightly cloying sentimentality ... But these are quibbles, to be skated over as you immerse yourself in Knapp’s picture-perfect set pieces and emotional realism ... I read The Names in a single afternoon, glued to the pages, occasionally wiping away a tear. It’s one of those books that will make you irritable with anyone who interrupts you, but which you’ll finish wanting to press into the hands of a friend. I can see the film adaptations, the book club meetings, the talk-show.
May well be the most devastating book you read this year ... It’s a straightforward idea that becomes complex as Knapp asks us to hold in our heads three concurrent yet totally different lives. And, because of the topic at hand, it’s immensely powerful ... The novel’s intricate structure is so clever because it lets us believe that what we do matters, only to be undercut by the reality of what it is to be in a relationship with an abuser: Gordon will abuse Cora regardless of her actions ... Knapp’s narrative is gentle when it needs to be, and tough elsewhere. There are evocative moments, but sometimes plain language is most impactful–and Knapp totally gets this, moving between the two with ease ... A wildly original and emotionally profound novel, and details from it have not stopped swimming around my head in the weeks since I finished it.
Compelling ... This is an insightful and beautifully interwoven story that asks how much is inevitable and how much we can control in our lives ... Knapp does a masterful job of scattering connections and hints throughout the book, some of them subtle, some significant.
Compelling, emotionally wrenching ... In clear, compelling prose, Knapp delicately builds a layered story about fate, free will, trauma, and hope. Each version of Maia, Cora, and Bear/Julian/Gordon feels fully realized and distinct while also sharing through lines between the different narratives. Both devastating and hopeful, this novel and its characters will linger with readers long after they finish the last page.
There are many well-written scenes full of suspense. The family members and friends are fleshed out and given their own backstories, and they all demonstrate the importance of family love and loyalty ... This parallel-narrative story will be popular with readers of literary fiction and women’s fiction. Fans of Sue Miller and Jacquelyn Mitchard will also enjoy.
To watch this action spin out over a 35-year period is quite remarkable. There are tender and heart-breaking scenes, as well as moments of pure fright and disgust, which will make the reader reflect on the power of given names.
This noteworthy debut explores a sobering topic with creativity, cleverness, and care ... An imaginative exploration of the long-term unfolding of an abusive marriage ... If the intention and construction of the book are a bit didactic, expressly designed to illustrate and explore the dynamics of domestic abuse, the boldness and thoughtfulness of Knapp’s plotting add complexity and a welcome unpredictability ... The novel’s structure pays off as Knapp intended it to.
