Birch bark notes

Birch bark notes are left for Sam by Alice during the novel. The bark of birch trees serves as an excellent medium on which to write, and Alice uses the bark for her notes. Alice’s notes are often composed of her plans, thoughts, or ideas. For example, one such note Alice leaves for Sam at the beginning of the novel, which helps him to figure out what her intentions are, has to do with Alice thinking about waterfalls.

Leather-bound journal

A leather-bound journal is given to Sam as a gift by the Delhi town librarian, Miss Turner, when she discovers that Sam has been writing on birch bark. She believes he needs a better place to write, and so purchases the journal as a gift for him. Sam uses it diligently, both to record events and to reflect on the past by reading...