Where Things Come Back discussion

I think that the woodpecker could symbolize false hope in a world where things are better if you don't look too closely. Any number of people could have disproven the story that the bird had come back, but they chose not to because its presence improves their lives.

As for Gabriel, I like to believe that he actually comes back, but it could have been a daydream as you say.

The woodpecker symbolized the only way the author could loosely tie absolutely everything else in the book together.

I did think the ending was legit, i.e. Gabriel does actually come back.