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Kathleen Jowitt
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Speak Its Name Paperback – January 22, 2016

by Kathleen Jowitt (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 13 ratings
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A new year at the University of Stancester, and Lydia Hawkins is trying to balance the demands of her studies with her responsibilities as an officer for the Christian Fellowship. Her mission: to make sure all the Christians in her hall stay on the straight and narrow, and to convert the remaining residents if possible. To pass her second year. And to ensure a certain secret stays very secret indeed.

When she encounters the eccentric, ecumenical student household at 27 Alma Road, Lydia is forced to expand her assumptions about who's a Christian to include radical Quaker activist Becky, bells-and-smells bus-spotter Peter, and out (bisexual) and proud (Methodist) Colette. As the year unfolds, Lydia discovers that there are more ways to be Christian - and more ways to be herself - than she had ever imagined.

Then a disgruntled member of the Catholic Society starts asking whether the Christian Fellowship is really as Christian as it claims to be, and Lydia finds herself at the centre of a row that will reach far beyond the campus. Speak Its Name explores what happens when faith, love and politics mix and explode.
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    1 year and up
  2. Print length
    278 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Dimensions
    5.83 x 0.63 x 8.27 inches
  5. Publication date
    January 22, 2016
  6. ISBN-10
    0993533906
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0993533907
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"An original, closely-observed, funny and often touching story with anunusual setting and a keen understanding of the interactions betweenmembers of small communities." - Betty Trask Prize judges

"a moving exploration of integrity, religious conflict and the difficulties of working out who you are and what life might be about... an absolutely riveting novel" - Jem Bloomfield, Quite Irregular

From the Back Cover

A new year at the University of Stancester, and Lydia Hawkins is trying to balance the demands of her studies with her responsibilities as an officer for the Christian Fellowship. Her mission: to make sure all the Christians in her hall stay on the straight and narrow, and to convert the remaining residents if possible. To pass her second year.And to ensure a certain secret stays very secret indeed.

When she encounters the eccentric, ecumenical student household at 27 Alma Road, Lydia is forced to expand her assumptions about who's a Christian to include radical Quaker activist Becky, bells-and-smells bus-spotter Peter, and out (bisexual) and proud (Methodist) Colette. As the year unfolds, Lydia discovers that there are more ways to be Christian - and more ways to be herself - than she had ever imagined.

Then a disgruntled member of the Catholic Society starts asking whether the Christian Fellowship is really as Christian as it claims to be, and Lydia finds herself at the centre of a row that will reach far beyond the campus. Speak Its Name explores what happens when faith, love and politics mix and explode.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kathleen Jowitt (January 22, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 278 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0993533906
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0993533907
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 1 year and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.1 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.83 x 0.63 x 8.27 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 13 ratings

About the author

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Kathleen Jowitt

Kathleen Jowitt

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Kathleen Jowitt was born in Winchester and now lives in Cambridge. She works in the education and training department of a major trade union. Speak Its Name, her first novel, was shortlisted for the 2017 Betty Trask Prize.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
13 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Marianne Uhlhorn
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful sequel
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2022
Excellent sequel to Speak Its Name. Lydia and Colette are continuing their college educations and figuring out what they want to do with their lives. They've been together for a couple of years now; two queer Christian gals who are each deeply spiritual in their own way. They work hard to be supportive of each other, even though their individual goals and dreams may not mesh together easily. And there are countless obstacles in their way, from organized religion, the educational institutions with which they are affiliated, and their own friends and family.
I couldn't put this down, and I truly hope to get another sequel to their story.
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Lisa H.
4.0 out of 5 stars Learning acceptance can be a struggle
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2023
As a person raised in a very conservative religion, who struggled with acceptance of myself and peace with my spirituality, I could thoroughly relate to Lydia’s journey. I too discovered that I was a lesbian while studying at a church sponsored college. I felt the condemnation of who I am from “the church”. I found my peace, and acceptance of myself through the lessons in the new testament. Christ, when asked the most important commandments put it simply: 1. Love God above everything; 2. Love your neighbor as yourself. His message is LOVE. If you are busy loving… your life is on the right path.

So like Lydia, being a christian to me means being a good person, putting others first, being honorable, and not judging others. Lydia struggles with accepting who she is, and how to reconcile that with the teachings of her church and rejection from those closest to her. I like that she points out that the church is made of humans, flawed humans. I also enjoyed that she observed others relationships with their faith. Not every church and/or religion is the same. Even the churches need room to grow, to learn to love and to not judge, because they are made of imperfect humans. Sometime we need to wait for them to catch up.
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wifie29
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful depiction of reconciling faith and orientation
Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2016
This is probably a book best enjoyed by people who have connections to Christian communities or have an understanding of them. However, if anyone wants a glimpse into the world of conservative evangelical Christianity, this is an excellent example of what it looks like. It's also a good read for straight Christians who want to understand what it's like to be LGBTQ within those conservative spaces.

It's hard to categorize my own feelings after reading this. At times, it was so familiar as to be painful. Because this is set in the UK and I'm in the US, I spotted some distinct cultural differences, particularly with the university system. However, every last detail about the Christian Fellowship group was achingly familiar, right down to the lingo, the statement of belief, and the narrowly specific teachings. It was enough that I cringed with apology for Americans having exported this brand of faith.

This is not a fast-paced story. It's a slow-bloom both regarding Lydia's expanding definition of what it means to be a Christian and her romance with Colette. I was both surprised and yet not at the way the faith-based politics played out in the story as well as Lydia's role in it all. Once again, it felt horribly familiar. Yet there was comfort in the realization that we who have been through similar things are not alone.

One thing I particularly liked was seeing the characters struggling to make sense of Lydia's orientation but seen from her perspective. A lot of Christian novels on LGBTQ issues are about Christians trying to figure out what to do with their gay friends and family, but they aren't told in the words and thoughts of the gay person themselves. It was a good change of pace watching it happen from inside, from Lydia's point of view, and seeing the different reactions in contrast with each other.

This is an ideal read for anyone trying to make sense of Christian faith and being LGBTQ or being friends and family of LGBTQ people. The characters and setting feel real, and it's so well-written with rich detail. It could be difficult for some readers to revisit a painful past, but others will find a kinship with Lydia and her group of friends.

I received a free copy via Inked Rainbow in exchange for an honest review.
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Kitty Kat
5.0 out of 5 stars This book made me think, made me laugh and cry....highly recommended.
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2018
’Speak Its Name’ by Kathleen Jowitt is ostensibly about the political interactions between various Christian factions within Stancester University. Lydia Hawkins is part of the Christian Fellowship and is trying to keep the faith while dealing with a secret she does not want to get out. As she mixes more with other christians of various denominations she is exposed to views that are very different from her upbringing and the version of Christianity she is trying to preach in her role as Hall Officer. But it is about a whole lot more.

This book made me think, made me laugh and cry. It was about love and friendship and becoming the person you need to be. I adored it. I really liked Lydia and I admired her struggle with her faith and the secret she is trying to keep. The characters as a whole were very realistic - some wonderful people I would be happy to know - others were appalling prigs, full of their own self importance. It is an excellent story of self-realisation and was very well written. The descriptions were stunningly accurate - both of student life and of the people encountered there. I highly recommend this novel.

I was given this book for review.
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