The Cuckoo's Calling
question
Meaning of book's title
Sammi
Nov 14, 2013 08:53AM
Rowling said on her website that "The title is taken from the mournful poem by Christina Rossetti called, simply, A Dirge, which is a lament for one who died too young. The title also contains a subtle reference to another aspect of the plot, but as I can’t explain what it is without ruining the story, I’ll let readers work that one out."
Anyone know what she's referring to?
Anyone know what she's referring to?
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I think Cindy hit the nail on the head here, the only archetype I know about Cuckoo's is that they push the other baby birds out of the nest so they can get all the food and affection.
This bit is a spoiler, so if you haven't read it don't read this:
John's entire motive for killing both Lula and Charlie was that they were the literal cuckoo in his childhood. His parents always loved them more, and he was always left behind and ignored. Their presence 'pushed him out of the nest,' because they took all the attention.
Remember when Strike tells John that his own mother doesn't even have a picture of him by her deathbead? She has one of all the other children, but he's left out even in this.
The Cuckoo's Calling is the story of one of the birds already in the nest when the Cuckoo comes along (Lula was even 'a bird of another species,' her race was a big point in the novel, and one of the parts of the Cuckoo legend is that they look nothing like the other babies, and yet the parents accept them unquestioningly at the expense of the biological children) and starts stealing all the food, and that bird gets angry and decides to kill the Cuckoo.
But she couldn't help it, it was her nature as a Cuckoo bird, it was how they survived, it was the Cuckoo's calling
This bit is a spoiler, so if you haven't read it don't read this:
John's entire motive for killing both Lula and Charlie was that they were the literal cuckoo in his childhood. His parents always loved them more, and he was always left behind and ignored. Their presence 'pushed him out of the nest,' because they took all the attention.
Remember when Strike tells John that his own mother doesn't even have a picture of him by her deathbead? She has one of all the other children, but he's left out even in this.
The Cuckoo's Calling is the story of one of the birds already in the nest when the Cuckoo comes along (Lula was even 'a bird of another species,' her race was a big point in the novel, and one of the parts of the Cuckoo legend is that they look nothing like the other babies, and yet the parents accept them unquestioningly at the expense of the biological children) and starts stealing all the food, and that bird gets angry and decides to kill the Cuckoo.
But she couldn't help it, it was her nature as a Cuckoo bird, it was how they survived, it was the Cuckoo's calling
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think also about the habits of cuckoo's.....
They place their eggs in the nest of another bird (Lula, Charlie and John are all adopted) en the young cuckoo throws the other birds (normally the own baby birds) out of the nest.
See what's happening there? ;-)
it's the nature of the cuckoo - so cuckoo's calling
just my 2 cents
(it also helped that I read the book in Dutch and the title in Dutch is "the youngling of the cuckoo")
They place their eggs in the nest of another bird (Lula, Charlie and John are all adopted) en the young cuckoo throws the other birds (normally the own baby birds) out of the nest.
See what's happening there? ;-)
it's the nature of the cuckoo - so cuckoo's calling
just my 2 cents
(it also helped that I read the book in Dutch and the title in Dutch is "the youngling of the cuckoo")
I think she might be referring to the fact that Cuckoo was Lula's nickname.
It was a message she left on Guy's voicemail. Maybe also what she was overheard to say while leaving a message for Uncle Tony.
It is because of the habit of her(Lula's) calling someone frequently as Duffieled said to strike. And the other was the nickname given to her Guy.
So it's Cuckoo's calling.
So it's Cuckoo's calling.
it's her nick name & it think it also refers the cockoo bird habits - symbolicly... was sort of surprised by the profanity though... i understand that the way the Brit's speak, but i was none-the-less surprised....
I think it is referencing the killer being the real Cuckoo, who happens to call on Strike... They all thought Lula was the crazy one, when in fact the killer is the craziest of all.
The title really had me wondering and it was late in the book when we learn her nickname is Cuckoo.Little over 1/2 way it dragged a bit, but I'm glad I persisted to the finish and what twists!! well done. I really liked Cormoran Strike and Robin, the temp.
Can someone please give me a pronunciation for "Bestigui"? That name drove me crazy.
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