Birds

Birds are a recurring motif throughout the novel, and they are used primarily to symbolize freedom, departure, and even the transmigration of the human spirit. Zoey’s mother, Paloma, assumes the form of a bird as she stays with Zoey through her childhood and watches her grow up. Frasier marvels at the dellawisps, whom he views as individualistic and free. Bird imagery is also applied to the characters at the Dellawisp (whom Frasier calls “other birds”), whose various arcs involve the unburdening of grief, a kind of flight and lightness associated with a bird’s act of flying.

Brugmansia

A variety of flower also known as angel’s trumpets, the smell of brugmansia is often used interchangeably with Mallow Island. It is described as hanging on the air frequently while the characters make their way around town, and its scent is one of the first things...