Point of View

The book "A Fistful of Fig Newtons" takes place inside the main character's head as he heads on a long, hot journey through the Lincoln Tunnel in stop-and-go traffic. The book is written in first person from the main character's perspective. Through most of the novel he remains unnamed, an everyman, and his name is only revealed by an acquaintance in the last episode of the book. The narrator often acts as an observer instead of an active participant in events. He lives inside his own mind, while he relates the lives of others.

The narrator's perspective changes over the course of the book. In the episodes when he recounts his childhood, his perspective is that of a young boy. As he grows up, his perspective shifts into adulthood, often becoming nostalgic. One of the stories embodies this change in the narrator, beginning with the narrator...