Point of View

The author uses the first person narrative, switching between the members of the nuclear family: Margaret, John, Michael, Celia, and Alec. This approach is appropriate given the fact that the novel is the family's story and how they deal with the ravages of mental illness and answer the question of how far they are willing to go to save those whom they love. Who best to show the impact of this than the family members themselves? The point of view of Michael's narratives are done particularly well. His chapters show readers how his mind works. Encased in formats that should contain basic information, Michael's imagination runs wild. It shows his brilliance as well as his insanity.

It is interesting that Michael's chapters are true to his character and that in the end, he is the one who has faced who he is. He says that...