The Someday Birds

Dr. Tiberius Shaw’s journal is symbolic of guidance. Charlie is thrilled when he finds the book at the Las Vegas curio shop because he has admired the elusive ornithologist’s work for some time. The journal reminds Charlie of his Bird Book, as it’s a collection of writings and sketches Shaw made “when he was young” (65). Throughout Charlie’s cross-country adventure, he relies upon the book. Reading Shaw’s passages makes him feel calm and centered. The book is also filled with Shaw’s observations of birds and his resulting musings about people and human behavior. Reading Shaw’s writings therefore helps Charlie to navigate his world, particularly as he ventures from one unfamiliar place to the next.

Charlie’s Bird Book is a symbol of identity. Charlie’s Bird Book is the notebook “where [he] cop[ies] sketches of birds, write[s] down facts [he] learn[s] about birds, and other stuff, too” (10). Charlie takes it “with [him] everywhere,” because he relies upon the book to survive and make sense of his experiences (10). The book is therefore an extension of who Charlie is. It is a safe, private place where he can write and draw about the things that interest, excite, or worry him.

Tiberius the dog is symbolic of companionship. When Joel and Jake first find the abandoned dog on the side of the road in Las Vegas, Charlie is skeptical. Tiberius is smelly and only has three legs, so Charlie sees him as more of a nuisance than a friend. However, Tiberius quickly becomes attached to Charlie. The first time they meet, Charlie notices that Tiberius’s “tail is wagging like mad,” and his brothers insist that he’s “smiling at Charlie” (69, 70). Over the course of the trip, Charlie and Tiberius become inseparable. Tiberius is different from other dogs, just as Charlie is different from other people. The two therefore feel like kindred spirits to one another. Growing close with Tiberius helps Charlie understand the power of connecting with other creatures and helps him learn about the reciprocal nature of love.

Ludmila’s tattoo is a symbol of grief. Charlie notices the tattoo the first time he meets Ludmila because it’s on her hand, but also because it’s also bleeding. The tattoo is in the shape of a heart and has Ludmila’s brother’s name, Amar, in the middle. Charlie later learns that Ludmila got the tattoo shortly after her brother was killed in Afghanistan. It is therefore a way for Ludmila to both mourn and memorialize Amar.