This one is a powerhouse of a novel.

Cora sets off with her nine-year-old daughter to register the name of her newborn son. Her GP husband Gordon has given her explicit instructions that his son is to be named after him as per his family tradition. But when the time comes to fill out the paperwork, Cora has doubts.

Spanning the next thirty-five years, Knapp plots a course for the three names Cora may have chosen for her son and the consequences upon not just his life but hers as well.

The three versions of the boy’s life as Gordon, Julian and Bear are gripping, harrowing and completely imaginative. The version of Gordon is the most difficult and given the themes of domestic violence can be very challenging to read. Fortunately, the chapters are short to allow the reader to draw breath and relief. But the switch into the new name and timeline means extra focus to remember each boy’s life version. Reading this one in long blocks would help which isn’t too hard since it’s a page turner. The themes of domestic violence, coercive control crossing all sections of the community was enlightening as it was sobering.

I can see why this one has made such an impact in the book world. Check this one out.