Jen answers “I must have missed something, what was the...”

A Goodreads user asked this question about The Night Swim (Rachel Krall, #1):

I must have missed something, what was the significance of her buying a bird at the end? The night that Bobby was nursing that bird back to-health?

Jen I wonder if it's meant to be symbolic? Just like the bird, the girls in this book were expected to act/behave in a certain way and were "caged in" by …moreI wonder if it's meant to be symbolic? Just like the bird, the girls in this book were expected to act/behave in a certain way and were "caged in" by societal expectations and norms, not allowed to speak up or be their true selves and unable to defend themselves. So Rachel rescuing the bird is symbolic for helping the girls break out of this symbolic cage, which in a way the conviction of the rapist and the uncovering of the truth about Jenny kickstarted. (less)

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Blair The first time the mentioned the non-singing nightingale my symbolism radar went up. I think your answer nails it.
Oct 28, 2020 12:28PM

Jen Thanks Blair! 😊
Oct 30, 2020 01:46AM

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