Review: Named, by Camilla Balshaw

The book
Our names are a shadow we carry around with us. They are part of who we are. Our names are a marker of our self-identity and our sense of self. Our names have the power to shock. They have the power to heal, and they have the power to trigger conversations around race, class, social mobility and belonging. But what is a name? What do our names tell us about ourselves? And why do they matter?

Named is a fascinating exploration of names, global naming conventions and identity politics woven into a moving, personal narrative about the finding of family and self. At the intersection of memoir and social and cultural history it is a truly fascinating book about the seemingly ordinary and every day.

The author’s own narrative about her estrangement from her Nigerian father, the grapples with her Jamaican mother and her journey towards identity is woven through the chapters making it an engaging and intimate investigation of what makes us who we are.

My Review

My thanks to the publisher and author for my copy of this book, and to Anne of Random Things Tours for organising the blog tour.

Camilla Balshaw has had a variety of names over her life, due to parental disagreement and then her own journey to finding her name. In this book she explores names, their meaning, development and history, while also exploring and confronting her own history, her family history, and deeper heritage.

I found this book fascinating as both a memoir and a study of names. The writing was fluid and confident, while her story of self-discovery is really interesting. Her confusion and distress during her early years over her name and the conflict in her family are equally affecting. I found her journey to self-understanding inspiring, and I bawled my eyes out when she describes her grief and loss at losing her estranged father.

I think she might be wrong about officially changing your name. You can change it for free if you don’t get it Enrolled. That costs money, because it has to go to the Old Bailey or something, and be published. An Unenrolled name change can be done with a certificate using specific language and signed by two witnesses. Do not be duped by ‘UK deed poll office’ etc. who charge you to draw up the same document you can do yourself.

Camilla Balshaw has a talent for writing memoir and social commentary, and I hope to read more from her.

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Camilla Balshaw

Camilla Balshaw grew up in Luton. Her work has been published in the Observer and the Guardian. She has an MA in Creative & Life Writing from Goldsmiths and is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham. Her writing has been shortlisted and longlisted for a number of competitions. She lives in rural Norfolk. This is her first book.

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