@rainbowrowell Somehow, I just now figured out what you were doing with Candle in the Wind in the series. (Feeling a bit silly about this. I got so caught up in singing along to Elton John that I forgot nuance and themes existed I guess.) What with Natasha and Lucy being the women who were taken too soon, Natasha’s scarf flying in the wind, Lucy LITERALLY being a ghost swept by the wind, Natasha “burning out” (again, literally), and Lucy being a flickering candle in the last book. (Again HOW did I miss this I read these books like they’re the Bible.)
Anyway, all this being said, was this candle in the wind through-line part of why you decided to name Anyway the Wind Blows the way you did? Or was it mainly in regards to Simon’s journey?
(See my reply to this post for more on “Candle in the Wind.”)
Re. “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Yeah, I went back to it because the last book is about Simon coming home. Back to the UK, back to Watford, back to the world the Mage built. Back to the overwrought rock opera that is Simon’s life.
Wayward Son is about getting lost in a completely foreign place. Where no one recognizes you or knows your story. “Carry On Wayward Son” could not be any more on the nose. Plus it’s an American band. An American vibe.
Wayward Son is about getting off the highway on the wrong exit.
I know that some people wanted the third title to be from that song, too. Because it would feel neater. But that would be giving too much power to the Kansas song, thematically.
