comment on style/ language

The language employed is not difficult to understand, but the novel does sometimes use unexpected combinations of words or short and poignant sentences for literary effect. The author writes in short, dense chapters, so every word and phrase must carry meaning and add to the impact of the chapter. Because each chapter is fairly short, often only two to three pages, word choice is important and the vocabulary used is evocative and effective. The author also regularly makes use of fresh and surprising imagery to keep the reader focused. For example, in describing Léonie waiting for Thérèse's arrival, Roberts describes how Léonie's mind "bristled with knives. She imaged the edge of the blade, silvery and saw-toothed. Its tip vanishing into Thérèse's soft flesh" (13). The use of clipped sentences and sentence fragments adds to the perceived speed of the narrative.