Religion

There is a pronounced focus on religion in this novel. Catherine Grace's father is a preacher, and the life of the town revolves around church activity. When he passes away, the whole town mourns. Gloria Jean, who is by all accounts a "good person" based on her treatment of the Cline girls and her involvement in the town. However, she is not seen as such because of her many divorces and departures from Christian "values."

Reverend Cline's adherence to the Christian faith also affects how he raises the girls and the expectations he sets for them; how well Catherine attaches to this faith is affected by her mother's death when she is 6 years old. The grief over her mother changes how she sees God and His will.

When Catherine moves to Atlanta, she sees herself as Moses, and her journey to the city as an Exodus...