Lily and Bear name their daughter Pearl. What do you think of the name?
Are you shocked at what had happened to Bear? Do you think it is strange that we had never encountered his allergy before?
What do you think of how Bear and Lily raised Pearl. Her use of adult language but still having that need to understand the permanence of death.
Do you think governments should have been more lenient when it came to funerals during covid. What sort of benefit do you think there would have been for Cora, Lily and Pearl if they could’ve closed the physical gap? Do you think the funeral held for Bear was not nearly as big of a celebration of life as it should have been?
Or do you think Bear would’ve appreciated the more intimate, yet physical distanced, funeral?
Bear has bought the family a car. One that he bought with Lily in mind. What do you think of this? Do you feel like, somehow, Bear is still looking after his family?
What do you think of Lily and Pearl maintaining the trinity of animal, vegetable and mineral?
After years of silence, Gordon contacts Maia. What do you think of this? Do you think he is truly wary of leaving the world without his family? Or do you think he is using the pandemic as a way to wiggle back in and continue his manipulation?
What do you think of the reveal that he had another family?
Its seems that Cora might have just found someone who she can be herself with other than Mehri. What do you think of this?
While Lily and Bear’s relationship grew, it seems as though Orla and Julian’s relationship suffered. What do you think of this? Do you think Lily and Bear’s relationship would’ve faltered as the pandemic went on?
Do you think Julian’s fear of being like his father, prevented him from having very necessary conversations and arguments with Orla and his children?
Julian finds his mother in gardening. What do you think of this and him chasing memories of her?
Do you think Julian rose above his father? How so?
When we last spent time with Maia through the gaze of Julian’s life, she was unsure of where her coming out would take her. What do you think of her finding a partner in Meg?
8 responses to “The Names – Day Six”
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1. I think it’s beautiful. There’s something delicate yet strong about it, and it instantly made me think of the “pearls before swine” line. It feels like a quiet tribute to everything Bear meant to Lily, something rare and precious.
2. Completely. It felt like a punch to the gut. He was finally building something full of love and stability, and then suddenly it was taken away. The allergy reveal was unexpected, but with this story, nothing ever feels entirely out of place.
3. I think they gave her something really special, the space to be herself, fully. She speaks like a tiny adult, but you can still see that childlike vulnerability when she tries to understand her father’s death. It’s a reminder that grief doesn’t care about age.
4. I do think more flexibility could’ve helped families say proper goodbyes, especially those already going through so much. But I also get why the rules were strict. It’s just hard when safety and comfort feel like opposing things.
5. I think so. Bear wasn’t flashy. He would’ve just wanted his people there, even if they couldn’t be physically close. It was quiet but full of love. That matters more than size.
6. It was incredibly thoughtful. He didn’t know what was coming, but he still made plans that showed how deeply he cared. The fact that he made sure it was fully paid and picked something with Lily in mind shows how much he wanted them to feel safe and cared for, even in the everyday things.
7. It’s bittersweet. It’s their way of keeping a part of him close, of holding onto a shared identity that still makes sense even with the grief.
8. It made me uneasy. There’s always this tug-of-war with Gordon. Part of me wants to believe he’s reaching out from a place of regret, but I can’t ignore how much damage he’s done. It’s hard to know if he’s changed or if he’s just lonely.
9. I can’t really say it was surprising. Gordon needs people around him, but not for the right reasons. He collects families instead of building real bonds. Always looking for control, never for connection.
10. It felt like the first true breath she’s taken in decades. For someone who has spent most of her life surviving, it’s so moving to see her finally living. Especially with someone who sees her as a person, not a possession.
11. No, I think Lily and Bear had something rare. A kind of partnership rooted in mutual understanding. Julian and Orla had too many words unsaid. And silence can be just as loud as shouting.
12. Yes. He was so terrified of repeating his father’s patterns that he avoided anything that felt too intense. But in doing that, he lost the chance to be truly present. Fear became a barrier to intimacy.
13. It felt healing. Like he was finally creating new memories instead of being stuck in his father’s shadow.
14. Without a doubt. He may have stumbled, but his heart was never cruel. That choice, to be kind even when it’s hard, is what separates them most.
15. It made me emotional. She deserved to be loved openly and fully, and I’m glad she finally got that.
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1) I love the name Pearl, and I think that it suits their family perfectly. The symbolism of animal, vegetable and mineral is so unique.
2) I was devasted reading about what happened to Bear! I kept asking why and had to put the book down, calm myself and catch my breath. His allergy came out of the blue, but Florence Knapp has been keeping us on our toes throughout this entire novel. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen she reminded me that this is her story, and I am just along for the ride. I have never had such a reaction to a book in a very long time.
3) I love the way they raised Lily with maturity and love but also creating a safe environment that allowed her to still be a child. They allowed her the freedom to be who she wanted but also shielded her from the harsh realities or finality of death. I think they thought they still had enough time and that Lily was still young so there was no need to taint her childhood by teaching her about death.
4) As harsh as this sounds, I think the restrictions during covid were necessary. If Cora, Lily and Pearl closed the physical gap they could have offered each other comfort in their grief. I think Bears funeral was fine because those who loved him the most were still there.
5) Knowing Bear and how close his relationships were with those around him I honestly think he would have preferred a small and intimate funeral surround by those that loved him. He wasn’t materialistic so just knowing that those who loved him were there would have been enough.
6) I think that he always put his family first and strived to give them the best he could offer. It felt like a final act of love from Bear to know that his family was his number one priority. Everything about the car was what Lily would have wanted and to be able to have it debt free was a present with a present.
7) Even though this is sad it was necessary to them to continue the balance within their home and lives as well as honoring Bear.
8) This angered me because he had no right to contact her after so many years. I do not feel sorry for him at all! I think he might be regretful of his life’s choices and actions, but too much time has passed for a reconciliation and too much trauma has been endured. I was happy that Maia did not respond to his letter.
9) I am not surprised that he has another family because he loves having people around him that he can manipulate and control. His narcissistic behavior dictates it. It would seem however that he is still not a changed man because his 17-year-old daughter does not speak to him.
10) I am so happy for Cora. To feel loved and safe and know that she has the freedom to be herself after years of trauma.
11) Bear and Lilys relationship was built on a foundation of love, trust and understanding so therefore I do not think that their relationship would have faltered. Orla and Julian’s relation was tested too much and they both failed at trying to improve it.
12) Yes, I do think so. He was so afraid of losing what he had and of becoming like his father. It sad how much his trauma affected him and held him back.
13) Him trying to have that connection to her is bittersweet when one considers how much time has been lost.
14) He definitely rose above his father. I honestly did not hold out any hope for him, but he redeemed himself and I am so proud of his change and growth. He was able to identify his flaws and correct them to do better.
15) I loved this for Maia. She truly deserved to be love and appreciated without reservation.
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There’s something both poetic and grounding about the name Pearl. It evokes quiet strength, resilience, and a beauty forged through discomfort — a fitting tribute to Lily and Bear’s journey, and a gentle nod to the symbolism of animal, vegetable, and mineral they share.
Bear’s death was devastating and jarring, especially with the late reveal of his allergy. It felt sudden and surreal, made worse by the fact that it hadn’t been foreshadowed. Yet with this story, unpredictability mirrors the fragility of real life — just when we think we understand it, it shifts beneath us.
The way Bear and Lily raised Pearl was striking in its tenderness. Pearl’s articulate speech suggests emotional intelligence beyond her years, but her attempts to grasp death reveal her vulnerability. They gave her space to grow and question, offering structure while still honouring her childhood.
The restrictions around funerals during the pandemic were deeply painful, especially for families like Cora’s. While safety was paramount, grief needs closeness — and their physical separation likely deepened the emotional distance. Bear’s funeral felt subdued, perhaps less celebratory than it could’ve been. But knowing Bear, it’s likely he would’ve preferred something modest and intimate, surrounded (even distantly) by genuine love rather than spectacle.
His gift of a car, chosen with Lily in mind and settled without debt, felt like a final act of care — evidence that he was still thinking of their future even as his own was slipping away. In some ways, it reads like love letter in motion: practical, thoughtful, and enduring.
Lily and Pearl continuing the trinity of animal, vegetable and mineral holds a quiet dignity. It’s a way of preserving shared history while forging forward — a balance between tradition and transformation.
Gordon’s sudden reappearance in Maia’s life was deeply unsettling. His motives remain murky — is it remorse, loneliness, or just another attempt at manipulation? The timing, cloaked in pandemic anxiety, feels opportunistic more than sincere.
Discovering that he had another family came as less of a shock and more a grim confirmation of his need to dominate rather than connect. His actions seem driven by narcissism, not affection — collecting families like tokens rather than nurturing them.
Seeing Cora possibly finding love and safety again is beautiful. For someone who’s spent years in survival mode, the chance to simply be — without fear or pretence — feels revolutionary. It’s a glimmer of something softer, more real.
Lily and Bear’s love grew stronger during the pandemic, whereas Orla and Julian’s seemed to unravel. The contrast underscores how emotional transparency and mutual resilience shape relationships. I don’t believe Lily and Bear’s connection would’ve faltered easily; their foundation was built on respect and openness, while Julian and Orla’s was weighed down by silence.
Julian’s reluctance to confront Orla or open up to his children seems steeped in fear — not just of being like his father, but of unintentionally causing harm. Yet in trying to avoid conflict, he missed the chance to build deeper trust. It’s a sobering reflection on how trauma can shape intimacy.
His attempts to reconnect with his mother through gardening felt deeply poignant. That need to root himself in something living, something she touched, speaks to the tender ways grief moves through generations — less about forgetting and more about reimagining connection.
In many ways, Julian did rise above his father. He wasn’t perfect, but he chose kindness over control, reflection over silence. Growth doesn’t need to be dramatic to be meaningful — sometimes it’s found in small, steady shifts.
And finally, seeing Maia find love in Meg felt like closure and a new beginning. After so much uncertainty and pain, that glimmer of joy was powerful. She deserved to be seen, loved, and safe — and she found it on her own terms.
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1) I think it’s beautiful! Something rare, precious and takes time to make…
2) I was shocked – that his life ended so early. I think I said in the group discussions that it is really sad that his story was cut short, compared to the other timelines, but at the same time – he lived a beautiful life and cherished his people from the beginning whereas Julian and Gordon needed more time. It is strange that we never encountered it before – but a wasp sting is different to a bee sting I guess.
3) I like how they raised her to be smart and ask the difficult questions. But any child would find difficulty in understanding the permanency of death – even some adults battle with this.
4) It’s difficult – COVID was a time of uncertainty and I understand the distance. But for people who usually came into such close contact with each other, the gaps may not have been necessary. I think the grief could have been shared if they closed the gap.
Also, no, I don’t know if a big celebration is what Bear would have wanted, but rather a more intimate gathering of the ones he cared for most
5) I think Bear had the type or precocious personality to plan ahead for his family – I think then he will still be with them long after his death.
6) I think it’s the perfect ode to Bear and the family he created.
7) I think that he wants to clear himself of any guilt he may feel before he leaves the world – getting ready of the guilty conscience he has carried with him all these years. Which in a way is manipulative, I feel it would belittle his actions and behaviour. I don’t have remorse for people who purposefully hurt the ones they love.
8) I think that I’m more shocked than anything that he would have started a new family.
9) It’s great for Cora – finally doing something for herself, and no one else. I wish she had done so sooner.
10) I think Bear & Julian differ greatly in their approach to relationships and life in general, because of their exposure (or lack of) to their dad. I think Lily & Bear grew closer throughout the pandemic, in their little bubble – which is good considering his fate.. Versus Julian who let his pride get in the way of looking after his family.
11) Yes – his fear definitely got in the way, he never “fought” for them and shied away from potential confrontation.
12) I think it’s a beautiful way to connect with his mother (and sister) – it’s only natural for someone to chase the memories especially as he remembers so little of her.
13) He did – he is nothing like him. In a way, he did let his pride get the better of him, but he eventually let that go. Which already proves he is nothing like his father.
14) I’m glad she found her person, even if it was much later than in the other timelines. -
I think Pearl is a beautiful name. It’s something that’s precious.
It was a huge shock! I was heartbroken. I don’t think it was strange not know that he was allergic to bees / wasps. The author doesn’t necessarily reveal everything to the reader and I think this is the case here.
I loved the way Bear and Lily chose to raise Pearl. I think they wanted her to be who she was and to impart as much knowledge to her as possible yet still making sure that she was shielded from the harsher things in life like death.
I do believe that Cora, Pearl and Lily could’ve benefited from being able to comfort each other physically. Looking back now after Covid it was necessary during that time because people were scared but now I think people would say it was unnecessary.
Yes this part gave me lump in my throat because again it showed who Bear was as a person and family man. He was always thinking ahead and planning for his family and what was best for them.
I think it’s a sweet tribute to Bear and to their family to maintain that tradition.
I feel like Gordon contacted Maia as a way to perhaps ease his conscience. As we grow older and start to near the end of our lives we start to reflect and we realise we need to start making amends. I feel like that’s what he’s trying to do here.
It didn’t really surprise me. Most men especially after a divorce or loss of a spouse move on and establish another family. Although knowing the kind of man Gordon was he needed another woman to control and more than likely did that to his next wife too.
I loved that and was hoping that Cora would this time let down her guard and let him in. They seemed to really connect with one another.
I felt like Bear and Lily were really solid so they would’ve been fine but with Julian and Orla, Julian was still struggling with his past, his father’s shadow was hanging over him and all these unresolved issues unfortunately were bound to impact his marriage especially under extreme circumstances like a pandemic.
Yes definitely. He was so afraid of being like his father that he never fully engaged and got involved with his children or wife which had a huge impact on his family.
I think this was so beautiful because he didn’t have memories or much to go on with regards to knowing his mom so the fact that gardening gave him that chance to connect to her I think was very cathartic for him.
Yes he did rise above his father. He took ownership of his mistakes and tried to work through them in order to get his family back. He didn’t want to control Orla or his children and so he lived up to his name as sky father in my opinion.
I was so happy that Maia could openly be herself and could love who she wanted to without any fear or retribution.
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I love the name, I like that they named themselves in a way that makes them seem unified – something Bear’s childhood was not.
Yes I was very shocked and did not see that coming at all. The fact that his allergy was never mentioned I think was done to emphasize how the focus was on his dad in his childhood and not on his wellbeing. It emphasizes his dad’s selfishness.
I think they raised her as well as they could – the use of adult language is a minor thing compared to what they could have carried over to her from their childhoods. The fact that she struggles to understand the permanence of death shows how young she still is.
I think the government did the best they could to protect us all. If they made allowances under certain circumstances for funerals, I imagine that would have become difficult to regulate and so they always opt for a “one size fits all” solution. I think it would have helped them in their healing process if they could physically support each other. I think Bear’s funeral was fitting – he was not the type to be concerned with how many people came to his funeral and what they did – the intimacy would have been meaningful to him.
It is just another sign of how thoughtful Bear was and it serves as one last tangible memory they could hold onto in his absence. I think it shows his kindness and is a sign that he is still present in their hearts.
I think it is a sweet way to honour Bear.
I think Gordon truly felt the consequences of his actions in his last moments, but it was just too little too late. Him contacting Maia is a desperate attempt to feel less alone in death and to fix what could no longer be mended.
I was shocked but also felt like it was typical behaviour for him – his main goal in life was to be in control.
I was so happy that Cora found someone who can treat her the way she has always deserved to be treated. She deserves a normal, quiet kind of love.
I think Lily and Bear would have stood the test of time. Orla and Julian has miscommunication issues, which is a known killer of relationships.
Yes I do. In his fear of becoming aggressive, he just avoided conflict entirely. Conflict is a necessary part of the human experience and any good relationships must be able to overcome it.
I think it is beautiful that he found a way to connect with his mom. It gave me a sense of peace for him.
Yes I do – he did not become like his father in any way.
I am glad she found her place and happiness in her world and is no longer scared of what her peers will say.
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I liked the meaning for the names for an animal, a vegetable (though I didn’t know Lilies were vegetables), and a mineral. They were all unified in their names in some intentional and deliberate way.
I mean… can anything surprise you in this book anymore? It’s was so sudden and tragic and it was when things were really coming together for their family. It was really sad and for them to all be separated because of Covid, really sad.
I think Bear would have appreciated the intimate funeral but I think he would have wanted for them all to be able to be there in person without the social distancing. But as mum always says the funeral isn’t so much for the dead but for the ones left behind and I think some might have preferred the distance while others might have wanted the physical connection.
I think Bear will always watch over his family and I think as humans will always find some sort of connection to their loved ones who have passed.
I’m not surprised he reached out. I think the pandemic made a lot of people want to make amends and leave things right. We were confronted by death after death that it seemed anyone could die at any moment. I think he genuinely wanted to make things right. I do hope he was a better husband and father in his second marriage but we only have his word to go by so I cannot say I’m convinced, but I would hope that he did given the fall out of his first marriage and the damage it caused to all involved.
💯 I think it affected his ability to communicate effectively. Conflict resolution is something every couple should exercise. You can’t avoid conflicts you have to speak through them. I think because he has the reality of his father hanging over him and the consequences of a lost mother he must have been even more conflict averse.
I think he rose above because he decided to fight for his family, to work out his trauma and to be a whole human being again. Gordon snr. did not or maybe could not do this for his own family.
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I really loved the concept and thought behind it, animal, vegetable and mineral. It’s really fitting.
I was devastated! It was a bit strange because usually one has to be exposed to the venom to become allergic.
Using adult language has no relation to understanding the concept and permanence of death, I think they did the best they could, and it seems she learnt in action. So if she encountered something she was taught about it. So because she hadn’t encountered death yet, there was no real way to understand it.
I don’t know. It’s really hard to say, covid was so bad, the spread was insane. But maybe more lenient towards outdoor events, with space.
Life celebrations don’t have to be big and showy, that doesn’t mean anyone lived less, or was loved less. No one knows what’s in your heart.I think Bear would have wanted his nearest and dearest there, not big, flashy and showy. He doesn’t strike me as some who wants to be centre of attention – dead or alive.
I wouldn’t trust Gordon Snr as far as I could throw him. He’s definitely guilting her into a relationship.
I’m not surprised he had another family, abusers always seem to worm their ways into places and need people to control or abuse to feel big and strong.
I loved the tie in with the alternate timeline, I think they may be a good fit.
I think a lot of relationships struggled during the pandemic and the after effects are still on going. So it’s very likely.
Maybe, he was possibly afraid to speak his thoughts in case he lost control or got angry and went in that direction. He kept a lock on his feelings.
It’s very sweet, it’s lovely that he could have that memory of her, and the way gardening had a place in all the timelines.
I think he did, he didn’t let him have that hold over his life and mental state.
I’m glad she found someone to love and trust, she deserves it.
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