Summary

The first story in Carmen Maria Machado’s collection begins with a parenthetical direction for how to read the story aloud. This style of address from author to reader occurs eight times throughout the story with all but the final address occurring in parenthesis. Each parenthetical address involves some form of direction or interaction for the reader to take with the audience of the reading. The final non-parenthetical is a confession and apology from the author or narrator of the story. As for if the parenthetical addresses are written from the point-of-view of author or narrator, it is intentionally vague and critically works within a theme of storytelling found in the story.

With the beginning of the narrative comes the introduction of the first-person narrator who remains unnamed throughout the story—in fact, every character in this story goes unnamed. The narrative...