Relationships

One of the primary themes running through the novel is interpersonal relationships. The novel reveals even the individuals that make up a family have different relationships among the family members. For example, Ona and Leon are perceived to have a closer relationship than Leon has with Leila, Nina or even Mah. Ona and Nina are more connected than Leila is with either of her sisters.

There is a reference to the cliché that there is a fine line between love and hate when you evaluate the relationship between Leon and Mah. In reality, Mah originally married Leon because he asked, even though she had other potential suitors that would have probably provided better for Mah and the girls, financially. Over the years, however, Mah has grown to love Leon, and in some ways Mah’s world revolves around the comings and goings of Leon.

When readers review the...