When we are introduced to young teenage Bear, we see his gentle side. What do you think of this shift from the Gordon we just read about?
Are you surprised to see that Maia still went into homeopathy? In the 1997 chapters, she reveals that she wants to study to become a doctor because her father was one. The person he became when he treated patients was one she could admire. Do you think that could be why she opted to still go into medicine?
Gordon, the children’s father, is also a murderer in the Bear chapters. What do you think of this reveal?
In the Julian chapter, we see the continuity of the boy’s character. As both Bear and Julian, he enjoys working with his hands. What do you think of Silbhe asking Cian to teach Julian?
What do you think of Maia not pursuing a career?
Despite having to take her grandchildren in and become a parent again, Silbhe tells Cian that she feels content in having this purpose. Do you think that some part of Silbhe wished she had done something different? Such as still seeing Cian?
Did you have a hobby when you were Julian’s age that you wish you could have done, or did you have a hobby that made you feel the same way that silversmithing does for Julian? If so, what is it?
On a snowy and stormy afternoon in Ireland, Maia tells Cian about her mother and what subsequently led to the murder of her mother. What do you think this means for Maia to open up to Cian?
Do you hope Cian will make a move and ask Silhbe to marry him? Or do you think they might enter into a different sort of partnership?
In Gordon’s chapter, we see a bit more of Maia. What do you think of who she has become? What do you think of her conversation with Kate in comparison to the other versions of Maia?
We get a rare glimpse of a different Gordon Sr. in this chapter. One where he seems not to be the person we’ve met before. But what do you make of the moment at dinner where Cora tells Gordon to stop and touches his wrist?
In previous chapters and versions of Gordon, he reacts and talks about girls differently. What do you think of how he acted in this chapter when it came to Lily? Is it because of what he sees his dad do? Or do you think he has other influences?
11 responses to “The Names – Day Three”
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I don’t think people are good or bad from their exit of the womb. Bad or good behaviour is taught. It highlights that if he were still under his father’s influence he would be a different type of child.
Yes I think that she was still keen to be a doctor because of how rewarding it is to help others. How you can be a real life super hero like she thought her dad was.
I think it’s mega how involved she is as a grandma, she really wants the best for her grandchildren and will do whatever she can to help. This has been consistent throughout.
Maia probably didn’t pursue a career because her mother abandoned hers when she had them. As I said before we model the behaviour of our parents. Sometimes subconsciously.
I always wanted to be a drummer but my parents were against it – too loud so when I got my first pay check I bought myself a kit and now they support it 😂
I think it means a great deal. I mean this entire situation is less than ideal and so to be able to share that burden with someone must be a great relief.
I hope they get married. I think Cian also is a tangible example of what a father could have been for the grandchildren and he seems invested enough to want to carry for them and with Sil.
I still absolutely adore Maia. I doubt there is much she could do to change my mind. She seems less sure of herself and timid which isn’t how she’s been portrayed until now.
That scene with Lily was actually horrid. But as I’ve said we are influenced by our parents. I think he saw how his dad is with his mum and thought well don’t be such a tease or don’t be so difficult just make my life easier and give me what I want. And the fact that he has to disrespect her when she said she wants nothing to do with him is the sort of response I would expect from his father.
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It emphasises how different circumstances during childhood can shape who you become.
No, I am not surprised since she saw her father practice and I think she chose this career as a way of trying to connect with the only good side of her father she ever saw.
I was expecting his violent behaviour to culminate in death, so I was not surprised that he became a murderer.
I think she wanted Julian to have a positive experience with a man – perhaps also a man he could share his experiences with. I think it is also a way for Silbhe to have a reason to see Cian regularly.
I think Maia chose not to pursue a career as an ultimate act of defiance toward her dad – he was very prideful and his career is what mattered most to him. He would hate seeing her not pursuing anything.
I don’t think Silbhe would ever have not taken the kids, but I am sure she does miss what she doesn’t have because of it.
When I was Julian’s age my hobby was (and still is) reading. It quiets my mind in the same way silversmithing does for him.
Maia opening up to Cian shows that she is growing in her ability to trust men again. That she realises not all men are like her dad was.
I would love to see Silbhe and Cian get married – she deserves happiness after sacrificing so much and the kids will benefit from having a good man around.
In the Gordon chapter, Maia seems very unsure of herself. She is not confident in her identity and is still coming to terms with who she is.
It shows how manipulative Gordon is and how well he masks who he truly is – he makes Cora seem like the violent one.
I absolutely believe his treatment of Lily is stemming from how his father talks about and treats women. It is very worrying to see how he is already mistreating women at such a young age and makes me fear for what he might do in the future.
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The shift between the gentle bear and the hurt Gordon that lashes out in the previous chapter gave me a bit of whiplash. But we see the long-term effects of those differing conditions under which both boys were raised when we catch up to both 2001 Bear and 2001 Gordon, so it made sense for one to be sociable and gentle and for the other to be disconnected from the people around him and a little angry.
I think so. But I also think it’s more than that. In the previous chapters she seemed to dissociate the two versions of her father: the doctor who heals people and the father who inflicts an immense amount of pain. It would make sense that she’d reject the one and–after seeing the different injuries her mom had to recover from from her father’s abuse–that she’d want to assume the role of a healer (which goes hand in hand with the role of being a protector that she was trying to be for her mom when she was younger).
For a second I had a meltdown. I had to put the book down and said “no, seriously, why? Why does Cora have to be dead in this timeline too, I thought she got away! Are you kidding me right now?”… And then I saw it was someone else he killed and I felt bad for her, but glad Cora and the kids are fine. That being said, I understand the threat of future violence that all of them feel now that there’s the possibility he could be released for good behaviour.
I thought it was a great idea, and a nice pay off for the therapy we saw in the previous Julian chapter, where making jewellery was therapeutic for him. I’m glad he’s able to channel his energy into something constructive, and to find a passion outside of the worry and grey of the past few years.
That made me really emotional to read. It’s another consequence of a child witnessing the effects of domestic violence that I hadn’t considered, and it saddened me to think that Maia’s life is in a perpetual standstill: excellent grades but won’t pursue something that will let her access her full potential; has the opportunity to leave Ireland and move on with her life but won’t do so; can leave home at her age but chooses not to; wants to have a connection with Julian but doesn’t know how to be a playful sibling; wants to move on from the past but misses her mom and is trapped by the memories. It’s really heartbreaking to read.
I think so. She had to put her life on pause when becoming the guardian of her grandkids and raising them. She had the opportunity to continue things, but seven years have gone by. I’m sure there were moments when she regretted not involving him as part of her life sooner. But the third time’s the charm, I guess.
I used to take scenes from movies and make edits and movie trailers with music that fit the vibe of whatever I was making. I used to sit for hours and edit these types of videos.
I think it’s both painful and therapeutic for her. Painful because she has to relive the memories but therapeutic because she’s finally opening up about what happened and she gets to tell someone about the wonderful person that her mom was outside of her father.
I hope they get married, but I don’t think they’d care about the label either way. I think they’d mostly just be happy to finally be able to be with each other.
This version of Maia seems more confident and capable. She speaks up and points out what’s wrong without fear, getting an authority figure to listen to her, and she’s incredibly observant. We haven’t seen much from her, but she seems settled in who she is. Then again, the whole point of the intersection between Gordon and Cora is to look beyond the appearance of things, so maybe this applies to Maia too. Maybe she appears more confident and put together, more unaffected, but the reality could be different.
We may see a different version of Gordon senior, but it’s just a facade and another mask, a face he puts on in public as the doting husband. I argue we don’t see someone different from the Gordon we know: we’ve been told by Cora and Maia that he’s incredibly charismatic in public and we get to see exactly what that looks like now. The stunt with his wrist just reminds us, and Cora, that he could do anything to reinforce his narrative of her being volatile and psychotic for his “unfit mother” defense for custody if she ever speaks up against him.
I’m not going to lie, the assault took me by surprise. Maybe it’s because of what he sees his dad do and expects women to be just as submissive as his mom, letting him get his way because that’s the type of behavior he’s witnessed at home, but without any other information I’m just making assumptions to try and understand why he could’ve done what he did to Lily.
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1. It just shows how much impact your childhood and upbringing can have on who you become. Bear grew up in a more loving environment than Gordon did, and it reflects in his gentle personality.
2. I think Maia sees the doctor version of her father as almost a different person. A kind and caring side she could admire. Choosing medicine may have been her way of reconnecting with that version of him.
3. I was a bit confused at first since I thought it was hinting at Cora’s death, but in this timeline she was still alive. Once the victim was revealed, it made sense and didn’t feel like such a huge shock.
4. I think Silbhe is a very involved and loving grandmother. It’s sweet how attentive she is. She sees how hands-on work helps Julian and probably hopes it will help him heal. Asking Cian was a thoughtful decision and something that I think was difficult for her to do.
5. It saddens me. Maia’s past trauma still has such a strong hold on her that she’s not living life to the fullest. It feels like she’s become a shell of the person she once was.
6. I think Silbhe does have regrets. She probably wishes she had seen the abuse sooner and helped Cora before it was too late. I also think she still has very strong feelings for Cian and wonders what could have been.
7. Yes. I had two hobbies that meant a lot to me. Reading, which let me escape into any world I wanted, and playing guitar, which helped me express my emotions through music.
8. I think it’s a huge turning point for Maia. Trusting Cian enough to share something so painful, especially considering her past with men, shows that she’s starting to let her guard down and move toward healing.
9. I do hope Cian makes a move, even if it’s just something slow and gentle like dating. They clearly care for each other and have a strong bond. It would be nice to see that grow.
10. It makes me sad to see how much Maia has changed. She used to be so confident and full of life. In her conversation with Kate, she seems unsure and hesitant, like she’s lost her sense of self.
11. It shows just how manipulative Gordon Sr. is. He knows how to play the part of the caring husband in front of others while flipping the situation to make Cora look like the problem.
12. The scene with Lily was disturbing. It’s clear that his father’s behaviour has had a huge influence on him. He’s copying what he’s seen and normalising toxic, harmful actions.
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1) I think that parenting, influence and circumstances play an integral part in moulding who you become as you grow. Bear was raised with love and patience and had positive role models hence he is growing up kind and compassionate whereas Gordon did not have a good role model or any positive reinforcement growing up and this shows in his character.
2) No, I am not surprised that Maia chose to become a doctor. I think that initially she wanted to be a doctor because she saw how good her father was at it but I think that she stuck to it to try and do some good in the field and make a difference.
3) I was not shocked at the reveal. His violent behaviour was an indication of that being a possible outcome. I did think though that it was Cora’s death initially.
4) I loved that Silbhe was so attentive to his interests and considerate of what he needs emotionally and noticed that he needed a role model/male influence and she choose someone she knew she could trust to help him with this.
5) I think Maia’s past trauma prevents her from living to her fullest potential. She was content just existing without actually truly living and it’s heartbreaking.
6) Yes, I strongly feel that Silbhe blames herself for letting Cora leave at such a young age and also for not seeing how abusive her marriage was. She feels responsible for how life turned out for Cora. I also think that she has a lot of regret regarding Cian because she still has very strong feelings for him. She regrets not reconciling with him sooner.
7) My childhood hobbies were sport and reading and although I do not do sport anymore I still love reading.
8) It shows that she has finally met a male figure she can trust to speak openly about her mother to. It’s also so sad how much she misses her.
9) I really do hope that Cian makes a move because Silbhe deserves her happy ever after too.
10) I feel as though Maia has lost her identity. She’s become someone who is detached and distant and when speaking to Kate she forgets who she’s become and lets slip some of who she used to be.
11) He is keeping up pretences in front of his friends so that he can discredit her behaviour and reputation and will have witnesses to it. Gordon is calculated, dangerous and manipulative.
12) Whenever I get to a Gordon chapter I’m always holding my breath waiting for the other shoe to drop. I was somewhat shocked with how was with Lily, but we need to understand that he has never had a good or positive male influence to show him how to treat a woman.
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1) Bear is so soft, gentle and sweet – there is such a contrast to Gordon Jnr. He cares so much about his mom and sister, and now this new romantic side with Lily.
2) I think at the end of the day she wanted to help people and she was able to separate who her father was at home versus who he was at work (which is wild to think). I think she also wanted to advocate for people who could not advocate for themselves. (this is from Gordon’s timeline right?)
3) This shows it is his character, and he has it in him to hurt people – this also makes me think something of this nature will happen in the Gordon chapters – but I’m thinking it will maybe be Gordon Jnr?
4) Silbhe really understands her grandson and wants what is best for him – considering all he has been through. It’s great she is able to reach out to Cian, hopefully she will also get a little happiness out of it.
5) It’s really sad that she is not pursuing a career (although I am not sure what she does in the Gordon timeline) – I think she is very much wanting to keep her stability, the “known” instead of pursuing something else. She wants to protect Julian, and herself. Another impact of the abuse from Gordon toward their mother and her eventual death.
6) I do think she wishes she could have maintained her relationship with Cian – it maybe could have helped. But it’s also understandable to have kept her distance – especially as the children needed to learn to trust again.
7) I am not very creative and I can’t make anything – reading is my hobby haha. Maybe baking actually – I wish I could have continued with that.
8) It means Maia is able to trust Cian, especially as an older male adult, this is big. Cian’s presence in their life is a good thing (I hope)
9) I am not sure – maybe a sort of companionship
10) I think she has gained some much needed independence – but she is definitely angry and introverted, which she alludes to throughout her conversation with Kate. In this narrative, she also doesn’t seem to loudly proclaim she is attracted to women – in comparison to Bear’s chapters – where she feels safe to be herself.
11) Oh that was such an intense reaction – and I feel like it is all an act. Obviously. He has built up this image of himself and in a backwards way puts down Cora. Makes her appear to be the bad guy.
12) I think it has a lot to do with his dad’s behaviour – in terms of control and taking what he wants from the woman in his life. It was so ugly, I really should have seen it coming. I also think his “need” to be part of the in-crowd also influences his behaviour – compared to Bear who floats between groups of people, not needing to be “cool”, you know? -
I think you aren’t inherently born good or bad. The gentle Bear we see is nothing like his father whereas Gordon jnr is an angry, attention seeking young man who desperately wants to be seen by his dad.
I think she did respect her Dad as a doctor and how good he was with his patients and separate that from the person he was at home. I also think part of her personality is to be a healer and protector so it makes sense that she’d pursue a career in medicine.
Gordon has all the traits of a violent, controlling, abusive man. It’s not really surprising that he’d end up murdering an innocent person.
I think Sylvia knew that Cian would be a good influence on Julian and also be a good male role model for him.
The Maia we see in this chapter breaks my heart. She’s sad and lost which leads to her not wanting to aspire to be more or even travel anywhere.
I think Sylvia wouldn’t have made a different decision with regards to parenting her grandchildren. She knew they needed her and was willing to put aside her feelings for Cian for them.
Reading has always been my hobby and was a way to escape even when I was younger.
It shows the kind of person Cian is that someone so traumatized like Maia would open up to him and share her memories of her mother. He’s clearly a special man.
I think they’ll find a way to be together no matter if it’s through marriage or just a partnership.
Maia here is still trying to find herself and to reveal who she truly is as a person.
Gordon is beyond manipulative and will go as far as to make his wife look like she might be abusive towards him in front of others. It’s just another way for him to control how he’s seen in comparison to his wife.
His treatment of Lily was disturbing. Unfortunately he sees the way his mother is treated by his dad and feels like a woman should give him what he wants when he wants it. He’s probably also surrounded by male friends who see women as objects they can use as they wish. His influences in this case all contribute to his behaviour towards Lily.
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– The shift shows the significance of the name and its legacy.
– I think her father’s career certainly influenced Maia’s decision.
– I was shocked to understand that in two narratives Gordon’s father murdered someone – it just shows the harsh realities of domestic abuse.
– I loved the character dynamic between Cian and Julian – he is craving a father figure.
– My childhood hobby was reading of course!
– Cian is certainly an important character to both Maia and Julian and allows them to open up in various ways.
– It is clear that Gordan is coming to terms with his actions as a teenager and that he is feeling the weight of its significance.
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1. it’s a complete 180. Very different and more likeable
2. Maybe to heal herself, make a difference and try help people who were in her mom’s position.
3. I was shocked and sickened.
4. I liked it, he could use a better role model.
5. It’s a choice, not everyone needs to pursue a traditional career.
6. Maybe it’s more of a connection/reconnection with her daughter.
7. I was a bit younger, but I enjoyed writing, and wrote a lot of fanfic short stories.
8. She’s trusting men, learning that not all men are the same.
9. It doesn’t really matter as long as they both want the same thing. Marriage isn’t everything as we learnt from Gordon and Cora.
10. I think she’s being true to herself and forgiving herself – in her mind she blamed herself.
12. I hated him, his behaviors was deplorable. Unacceptable.
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1. It’s an intense shift that shows how childhood influences can affect a person’s behaviours and personality.
2. Yes. I think she likes to help others and may also be looking for some connection to that good part of her father.
3. With the level of violence he showed in the earlier chapters, it didn’t surprise me.
4. I think she greatly cares about her grandchild and wants to help them in any way that she can, even if that means finding ways and people to help them process and/or their trauma and look up to.
5. I think you don’t have to pursue a career to be successful.
6. I don’t think she would have changed her decision to be a guardian to her grandchildren, but she would have changed the fact that she couldn’t help her daughter, and maybe misses part of the life she gave up to look after her grandchild.
7. Playing piano and swimming
8. She trusts him and feels safe around him
9. Yes, please! I hope they get married. They are both good people who deserve to be happy.
10. Maia seems unsure and insecure about who she is.
11. Gordon is a manipulative person, and this scene shows how he is able to mask his temper and violence and appear to be a caring husband.
12. Children’s main influences are their parents, and Gordon’s treatment of Lilly was 100% because of how he had seen or heard his father talking about women. Witnessing his father act violently toward women has made him think that this is the ‘right’ way to behave. -
Experiencing the shift from Gordon to Bear was jarring. Bear’s tenderness sharply contrasted Gordon’s aggression, emphasising just how significantly upbringing and circumstance mould who we become. I’ve never subscribed to the notion that people are inherently virtuous or wicked — our behaviours are cultivated. Had Bear remained under Gordon Sr.’s shadow, I’m convinced he’d have evolved into a very different young man.
Maia’s path toward homeopathy didn’t catch me off guard. Despite the trauma, I believe she yearned to maintain a connection to the only aspect of her father she could respect — his role as a caregiver. There’s a poignant irony to it. Having witnessed the harm her mother suffered, perhaps Maia hoped to reshape the idea of medicine into something nurturing, rather than something laced with pain.
The revelation that Gordon Sr. committed murder wasn’t shocking. His escalating hostility had already hinted at something inevitable. Still, I had a moment of dread — I genuinely feared he’d taken Cora’s life. Discovering it was someone else stirred sorrow, of course, but also a strange sense of reprieve.Julian’s journey brought a welcome warmth. His affinity for crafting — his connection to silversmithing — radiated a sense of restoration and promise. Silbhe asking Cian to mentor him struck me as both deliberate and healing. She wanted Julian to have a constructive bond with a man, and perhaps it was also a gentle excuse to keep Cian in her orbit.
The fact that Maia didn’t pursue a profession tugged at me emotionally. It felt as though time had frozen around her — such evident capability yet so deeply stalled. Whether it was an act of defiance against her father’s self-importance or a subconscious echo of her mother’s choices, it spoke volumes. Watching someone so gifted retreat into hesitance is heart-rending. That said, her decision to confide in Cian was incredibly moving. I sensed a deepening trust — a recognition that not all men emulate her father. That evolution felt at once cathartic and complex.
I do hope Silbhe and Cian formalise their bond — although I suspect the label wouldn’t mean much to either of them. What truly matters is that they’ve rediscovered one another, and now have a chance to create something anchored and nurturing. Silbhe gave up so much to care for her grandchildren, and while I don’t think she regrets the choice, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were times she wished she’d invited Cian into her life sooner.
Watching Gordon Sr. perform his public persona was maddening. It wasn’t a fresh facet — merely another disguise. He’s always wielded charm when it suits him. That moment at the dinner table, when Cora intervened and placed a hand on his wrist, sent a chill down my spine. And Gordon Jr.’s behaviour toward Lily was deeply unsettling — a stark imitation of his father’s attitude. The entitlement, the disregard for boundaries… it’s the kind of inherited dysfunction that’s truly disturbing.
Overall, this narrative left me emotionally raw but also deeply struck by its nuance. The characters are vivid — achingly lifelike — and their decisions reveal the invisible wounds they carry. It’s a powerful exploration of trauma, resilience, and the echoing influence of family ties.
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