Reading group questions for The Names

We hope these questions help guide your group's discussion for this unforgettable debut. We’ve done our best to avoid spoilers, but don’t read this Guide unless you’ve finished The Names – you don’t want to run the risk of ruining any reveals!

1. Do you think the cover accurately reflects the book? If so, how do you think it’s particularly evocative?
2. What did you think of the book being divided into three lives of Gordon, Julian and Bear? How did it affect your reading experience?
3. Have you read another book with a ‘sliding doors’ narrative? If so, how was The Names similar or different to it/them?
4. Was the prologue effective for you? What did you think of the illustrations at the start of each character’s story?
5. What genre would you describe The Names as fitting into? What novels would you compare it to? Delve into genre specifics if applicable
6. Did you find Florence Knapp’s depiction of the various settings authentic? Are any of the settings similar to or different from any places you’ve visited or lived in?
7. Name the core theme/s of The Names? Do you feel the author handles them effectively?
8. Use a quote from The Names as a discussion catalyst.
9. How do Gordon, Julian and Bear grow and change because of the events of the novel? Did your opinion of them change as the book progressed?
10. Did you see any of the book’s dramatic twists coming? Did any revelation surprise you more than the others?
11. What did you think of the ending? Did it surprise you? Do you feel everything was resolved?