Ettie

Ettie is the wife of Vince, and mother to Iza. She also had a son, Endrus, who died as a toddler. Much of Ettie's identity is connected to these roles and so, when Vince dies at the beginning of the novel, Ettie is forced to rethink her life and redirect her care and attention elsewhere. After being invited to live with her daughter in Budapest, Ettie is grateful not to be alone, and searches for any opportunity to help Iza, trying to show her love and appreciation. When her attempts to help are not needed, or wanted, however, Ettie is unsure of her place or her role in life and shrinks beneath Iza's disapproval.

In a world that she does not understand, with people who don't understand her, Ettie becomes socially isolated and stops corresponding with her friends in her hometown. By the time she returns for the...