Point of View

Breath is narrated in the first person by Pikelet, recalling his teenage years. He is for the most part a candid narrator, whose memories – of events, and of emotional highs and lows – remain vivid. The result is an absorbing narrative, which draws us into the young Pikelet’s world. At the same time he is a retrospective narrator, trying to make sense of his memories as an adult. This framing device allows us to empathize with the boy while appreciating historical context, and recognizing the long-term impact of the formative events that he describes.

The serious and cynical character of Pikelet even as a teenager, in combination with the troubled and restless tone of the narrative voice, serves to muddle the distinction between his younger and older selves. Nonetheless, the character of the adult Pikelet comes through most strongly at the beginning and the end...