Chapter summaries I Think We've Been Here Before Suzy Krause

Chapter 57: "55" – Summary and Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Hilda is painting her last mural in Nora's bedroom—the only room left with white walls. She hadn’t planned the order of her work; it felt more like falling down stairs, letting gravity decide. For Nora, she chooses birds of all kinds: toucans, falcons, blue jays, flamingos, and penguins. Some are adorable, some terrifying, some too silly to exist. Nora has always loved birds.

Marlen’s recliner is too heavy to haul upstairs, so he lies on Nora’s bed, watching Hilda paint electric-green hummingbirds on the ceiling. He is surprised when Hilda tells him she finished reading his book the night before. She says she loved it and found it surprisingly comforting. Marlen notes an awkwardness—what does one say to a spouse who just finished one's book? He can read Hilda extremely well, and he sees she isn’t lying. She adds that she liked the ending. When he jokes, “Like, when they all die?” she replies, “But they don’t, do they?” He laughs and agrees they never do. She then references his being a prophet and asks if he got it right. He hopes so.

Key Events

  • Hilda paints the final mural in Nora's room, choosing an array of birds.
  • Marlen lies on Nora's bed instead of his heavy recliner, observing.
  • Hilda announces she has finished reading Marlen's book.
  • She tells him she loved it, found it comforting, and liked the ending.
  • They discuss the ending—whether the characters die. Hilda believes they don’t.
  • Marlen, as a prophet, expresses hope that his vision of the ending is correct.

Character Development

  • Hilda: Her choice of birds for Nora shows deep thoughtfulness. Finishing Marlen’s book demonstrates investment in his work. Her interpretation of the ending—as hopeful rather than tragic—reveals an optimistic side, even in a story about possible doom.
  • Marlen: He is vulnerable here, relieved that Hilda genuinely loved the book. He relies on his ability to read her; her praise matters deeply. His identity as a prophet is both a burden and a gift; he wants his prophecy (the book’s ending) to be one of hope.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Art as Connection: Hilda’s last mural is a gift specifically for Nora, using birds to reflect Nora’s personality. The act of painting becomes a way of honoring another person’s joy.
  • Storytelling and Prophecy: Marlen’s book is a story, but it doubles as prophecy. Hilda’s reaction—finding comfort in the ending—suggests that prophecy, like art, can be interpreted with hope rather than fear.
  • Open Endings vs. Finality: Both the mural project (with no fixed order) and the book’s ending resist tidy conclusions. The characters “never die” in Marlen’s view, implying continuity and the possibility of change.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter marks the completion of Hilda’s mural project and provides a quiet, intimate moment between Hilda and Marlen. Their conversation about his book ties together the novel’s recurring questions about fate, prophecy, and hope. It offers a rare glimpse of Marlen’s insecurity and Hilda’s warmth, strengthening their partnership as the story heads toward its conclusion. The discussion also reassures readers that even in a world touched by loops and premonitions, a hopeful ending is possible.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Hilda choose birds for Nora’s mural, and what does this choice reveal about her relationship with Nora?
    Hilda selects birds because Nora loves them—a personalized gift. It shows Hilda pays attention to others’ passions and puts care into her work, reinforcing her role as a thoughtful friend and artist.

  2. How does Marlen’s reaction to Hilda finishing his book differ from his usual composure?
    Marlen is visibly nervous and relieved. He reads Hilda closely to gauge her honesty, and when she says she loved it, he feels a weight lift. This vulnerability contrasts with his earlier prophetic confidence, showing that external validation matters to him.

  3. What does the discussion about the book’s ending suggest about the nature of prophecy in the novel?
    Marlen’s prophecy (his story) ends with the characters not truly dying. Hilda sees hope in that openness. The conversation implies that prophecy may be flexible—interpretation can shape its meaning, and a prophet’s vision can lean toward compassion rather than determinism.

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