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There are currently 13 member reviews
for The Naming Song
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Maren C. (HARVARD, MA)
A magical rediscovery of words and worlds!
The Naming Song promises the reader a trip through a world where words have vanished after a seemingly catastrophic event. Our protagonist is herself unnamed but works as a courier who delivers words to the correct items throughout the book's world.
The language is enchanting and the world-building, while slow, is effective in painting a picture for the reader. Although I expected more action, there are moments of suspense that move the plot along enough to keep the reader interested. I would have preferred to know more about the courier's backstory at the beginning of the book, but the story does not suffer due to the pacing of the reveals.
The cover itself is attractive and incorporates the environment of the book well. The pull quotes are from authors who are representative of the genre that The Naming Song belongs to, so they give the reader a good idea of what to expect, and I would not hesitate to recommend this book to people who enjoy those authors.
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Ruth H (Florida)
A Courier's Story
This was a very different kind of read for me. The futuristic story line deals with a collapse of humanity where words were lost and ghosts and monsters become reality. The "courier" is nameless, narrator of the story and trying to help reestablish words for society. The book started slow for me. I was glad for the Principle Characters list to identify who was who and their responsibility. It was very helpful. After a few chapters, the action begins and the pace picks up with the Black Square Show. I liked the idea of travelling on the train, (Number Twelve) it was a great transport for humans and monsters! The concept of language from the naming songs reminded me of sayings learned as a child to remember life's necessities, like the many quotes by Benjamin Franklin or our elders! I also kept waiting for the courier to obtain her "name" throughout the story, catch the ending, it's a surprise only the courier and Beryl know. If you like reading fantasy/fiction one will enjoy this story.
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Norma R. (Secaucus, NJ)
The Naming Song
Where words create reality and danger lurks in the nameless worlds. Novel takes place in a dystopian world of committees, couriers, ghosts, monsters, namers. Population is scattered and many living in poverty. There is a general amnesia that prevents people from speaking the names of objects. There is much spying and mistrust. The main character is the courier who brings words forth and is nameless. The novel creates an entire world, including a traveling train show that reminds people of their history. Most people are struggling and isolated but team form. I enjoyed the novel but found it a bit long. There is a list of principal characters at the front which is very helpful. Recommend this book for someone who wants something different. Or for a book club that is interested in imaginary worlds.
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Reid B. (Seattle, WA)
A rose by any other name....
It is always risky for someone who uses words as their craft to write a book about words. It can (and often does) become a sort of meta-narrative about the profundity of language or some such thing, a naval-gazing experiment in letting us all know how very erudite the author is. In the opening pages of The Naming Song I thought that this would be yet another example of the genre. Thankfully, Berry adroitly avoids the trap and instead tells a compelling tale of a post-apocalyptic world in which the names of people and things have all disappeared. The named and the nameless are in conflict with one another, and while names are extremely useful things, they also confer a sort of ownership on those who do the naming which, in this universe, rips them from the nameless. It is also so that people who die do not truly die, but are made ghosts and enslaved. Dreams can become monsters, not all of whom are monstrous.
Our hero is unique because she does not have a name but works for the named, is, in fact, a courier delivering names to things. She also has a conscience and curiosity, which both lead her to make choices that are outside the bounds of what is acceptable and get her into deeper and deeper trouble. Along the way, her idea of the parameters of the world and how we each negotiate our way through it expands until she realizes that, while useful, names are also a form of theft, and that the namers (and the sayers, who determine the law of the land) do not always have the best interest of others at heart.
This is truly excellent story-telling and a compelling read from beginning to end. One suggestion: while I understand that names evolve throughout the story, it would be useful if the cast of characters listed at the beginning included all the names these characters have. It can become very confusing to recall what a certain character used to be called; it doesn't seem to me that it would detract much from the revelations within the story if we knew in advance the many names by which they are known.
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Pamela W. (Piney Flats, TN)
Tell, not Show Writing
As a language educator, I taught my students how to use Show, Not Tell writing. I'm 20 years out of the classroom so as I was reading this book, I struggled initially to figure out why I couldn't make connections with the characters. At first, I thought it might be the genre, but I like post apocalyptic novels. Then I took time out to read Table for Two by Amor Towles. Aha!
The Naming Song might be perfect for others, but not for me. I stopped reading at page 97. I have too many books on my pile. Time to move on.
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Susan P. (Mount Vernon, WA)
What a Crazy Book!
This started out with a great premise; a world where language has been lost and a small group of "talented" people go out and give (or teach) a word to the populace. I was intrigued by that idea. However, the twists and turns in the book were out of my ken; it was a little too bizarre for my tastes. My reaction is likely generational since I have not grown up with or experienced any of the gaming culture. The paths taken through this story appear to be something one could expect from a fantastical fantasy game. So, this is not a book I would recommend; but admit that I am not very likely the author's audience!
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