Point of View

Author Mona Simpson uses point of view deftly to give a fully-rounded view of Ann's life with Adele. If the entire story was told through Ann's eyes, it would not be possible to reveal the complete truth, or to know as many different facets of the characters' personalities. This is Ann's story and the longest sections are in her point of view, beginning with the move to California. With the exception of the final chapter, every other section beginning with the first is from Ann's point of view, and those sections contain 12 of the 17 chapters. The narrative of Ann's life beginning with the trip to California is interrupted by sections in another character's point of view. Chapter 4, the section in Lillian's point of view, reveals the family history of Ann's grandparents and great-grandparents, as well as Adele's childhood. Carol's sections, chapters 9 and 14 fill in Adele's young...