Ch-ch-ch-changes! Classic. Aren't you inspired already? Grandma Sweetwine would be swooning, that's for sure.
But, on top of an excuse to sneak in some Bowie brilliance, change is a big part of the landscape in I'll Give You the Sun. Some changes (like the Sweetwines' separation) have been a long time coming. Others (like Dianna's death) are super sudden. Some (like Jude's approach to her art) unfold over in the book; others (like Oscar's recovery) happen off the page.
Many of the changes we see, like Jude and Noah's appearances, take time to understand. They're mysteries that are slowly solved over the course of the novel. There's only one thing that all these changes have in common: no matter how long it takes for a change to occur, it always takes more time for the characters to process it.
Questions About Change
- Do you think Mr. Sweetwine's relationship with Noah changes a lot over time? Or do you think Noah's perception of that relationship changed?
- Do you think "Drunken Igor" is gone for good? Why or why not?
- Why do you think Dianna dresses differently for Guillermo? What other changes in her behavior does he inspire?
Chew on This
In the world of I'll Give You the Sun, change is a negative force. It makes bad things happen.
In the world of I'll Give You the Sun, change is a positive force. It makes good things happen.