What is the author's tone in Grace Notes by Bernard MacLaverty?

MacLaverty's tone is often sad.... depressed. Much of the content of the novel actually takes place inside Catherine's mind and memory. The reader witnesses an actively neurotic mind trying to control itself. The reader sees someone who compulsively thinks of the worst things that could happen trying to refocus those thoughts on memories. Since Catherine cannot make herself happy, the most she can do is remember times when she was not so sad. Controlling her thoughts gives Catherine a way to exert control over her depression and her life. The language she uses to control her thoughts is a stream of conscious method of allowing her mind to move from the current event to a past memory. In this way, Catherine can put off the thoughts of depression rather than letting them take over and control her.