If there's one thing Georgie likes to dwell on more than how her sister isn't dead in One Came Home, it's how long she's known her sister isn't dead. No joke, Georgie pauses a lot to let us know just how long it's been since certain events occurred, and how long it seems like it's been. In other words, she addresses both the actual and the perceived nature of time. Georgie connects time to human constructs like months, but it's also connected to natural processes like the pigeon nesting. All this consideration of time lends a sense of urgency to Georgie's journey. The clock is always ticking.
Questions About Time
- What role does time play in Agatha's disappearance?
- Why do you think Georgie constantly feels the need to talk about when things happened? For example, how many months and days have passed since certain events?
- Why is it so important that the novel be set specifically in 1871? Could it have been set in any other year?
Chew on This
Georgie's obsession with how long ago things happened derives from her desire to go back and change events.
Life events of great significance change Georgie's perception of time.