The Entertainment Industry

The Entertainment industry is used by the author as both a backdrop for the entire action of the novel, but also as a vehicle for delivering some of his most poignant messages about life and love. Barbara, initially, has a skewed small town sentiment toward London starlets and thinks that she will be the next Lucille Ball, and that this is what it means to be successful and loved. But, like her assumptions, she finds that the London television scene is just as fake and her perceptions.

In this book, the author questions whether the Entertainment industry has the same value as true art. Bill would say no. Vernon Whitfield would say no. Sophie, by the end, is amazed that every young person's career goal is to be famous, rather than, say, cure cancer. Since their program is overseen by the division of “light...