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The Naming Song by Jedediah Berry

The Naming Song

by Jedediah Berry

  • Critics' Consensus (39):
  • Readers' Rating (14):
  • Published:
  • Sep 2024, 384 pages
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There are currently 14 reader reviews for The Naming Song
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Tonyia R. (Hillsborough, NJ)

And journey begins …..
This book is full of wonder and adventure. The story itself is absolutely wonderful, engaging, epic fantasy work that is enjoying to read. The more you read about these characters and creatures and their abilities and roles the more intriguing, fun, sad they are to read about. The concept of a world developing by naming things, emotions, actions, is so exciting. The power to naming something to existence. My favorite character was the courier who delivers words. And the diviners that came up with words. Some of the story reminds you of Harry Potter as the named travel through lands on a train to travel throughmore
Lorraine D. (Lacey, WA)

The Naming Song, Music to the Ears
The stages I experienced in reading this book went from "resistance" to the verbiage, to "peaked interest", to "can't put this book down". The Naming Song is a tumultuous, imaginative ride through a different time, place, and meaning. Jedediah Berry's creative use of descriptive language transforms the words to a visual experience. Imagine a world where some things are named, others are not. Why? Why not? How are the names generated? Who discerns, who delivers, them? Then what? The words are truly "music" to the listeners' ears. I encourage you to immerse yourself in the experience. Totally captivating.
Arlene I. (Johnston, RI)

The Magic of Language
There are absolutely no spoilers in this review.

"The Naming Song" is not a book I would normally read. At first it was difficult to immerse myself in the story and the characters because of their unconventional names. I had several starts and stops, but in the end I really enjoyed reading this book. I am glad I went back to finish AND reread this novel.
The story begins at a period of time when a catastrophe event changed the world of words and the magic of language. Words were wiped out..all of them. We experience through the characters the struggle to get the perfect word for everything they come in contactmore
Gloria M. (San Jose, CA)

Intricate and Original!
"The Naming Song" by Jedediah Berry was not on my radar until BookBrowse (yet again introducing me to authors I was unaware of and adding to my ever expanding TBR list!) offered it as a First Impressions selection. I was hooked after the very first page where the unnamed Courier is introduced. She is delivering new words into this complex world by acting them out-for example, secreting herself away on a freight train boxcar to speak the word stowaway. As the narrative continues we learn that some sort of apocalyptic event occurred that wiped out all the words, and the Diviners are slowly researching the propermore
Daniela G. (Sarasota, FL)

Amazinggggg read
I must say this book captured my imagination from the very first page. The story's fundamental magic of language is beautifully woven into every aspect, making it a compelling read that resonated deeply with me.The premise of a world where words have vanished, leading to chaos and the rise of committees to restore order, is both innovative and thought-provoking. The author's portrayal of a society battling the unnamed, where meaning and boundaries have disintegrated, felt incredibly relevant and poignant. It's a stark reminder of the power of language in shaping our reality and understanding our world.
The author'more
Barbara C. (Riverside, CA)

I love words.
But I have my limits. Building a society where every word has a new name is too much for me. This book I rated good because of the quality of the writing, but I often got lost between the names and the places and the new words. I think it was too long. I wanted to stop reading when it seemed repetitious, but I trudged on. I am so glad that most of BB reviewers found it wonderful. Good for them!
Kabara K. (Rockville, MD)

Reading the book feels like watching a dream
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy Gaiman fantasies and are open to a longer epic-length novel; to those who read Divergent as a kid and want a more mature and literary dystopian caste system; those who enjoy language and the importance of words (it kept bringing Babel to mind for me); and to anyone who enjoys getting lost in interesting new worlds created within books.

(Longer review on Goodreads.)

Of course in a book about the power of names and naming, language is a primary theme. However, to me, the book was more about the power of defying the name/label, and the beauty of living in between –more
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 duemore
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