Point of View

This novel is narrated by two first-person narrators, Lily and Atlas. Consider Atlas’s first sentence: “The way ass whole is misspelled in red spray paint across the back door of Bib’s makes me think of my mother” (1). Atlas uses the personal pronouns “me” and “my” indicating that he is writing about himself and his thoughts and opinions. Lily’s opening sentence is similar: “My hands are still shaking, even though it’s been almost two hours since I ran into Atlas” (6). The use of the first-person point of view gives the reader insight into both Lily and Atlas’s thoughts and emotions as they reconnect with each other and as they face the difficulties of parenthood.

This dual first-person point of view is a good choice because this is a novel about both Atlas and Lily. It keeps the reader from focusing on...