It's tough to find a book about death that doesn't ask the Big Questions. You know: Where do we go after we die? Why are we here? How do we live fulfilling lives? That sort of thing. And The Sky is Everywhere is no exception to this rule.
Lennie isn't religious, but she is trying to make sense of Bailey's death. She's trying to figure out whether her sister is completely gone, or still with her in some spiritual way. Reexamining her life means thinking about her mother's abandonment differently, too. While Lennie doesn't draw too many conclusions, put on your stodgiest philosopher's beards, because there's a lot in this book for you, the reader, to ponder.
Questions About Philosophical Viewpoints
- Do you think Gram is right that Paige's behavior would be more socially acceptable if Paige were a man? Why/why not?
- What is Lennie's relationship with spirituality in this book? Does it change?
- Does Lennie experience jouissance, or, as Sarah puts it, "transcendent rapture," during the story? When?
- Do you agree with Uncle Big's theory that we are all the authors of our own stories?
Chew on This
Uncle Big's write-your-own-story philosophy mirrors the existentialist philosophy that Sarah follows.
The Sky is Everywhere is first and foremost the story of Lennie's spiritual journey.