There are Two Sides to Everything

One of the overall lessons in the book is that there are many times different ways of looking at the same thing or that there are hidden sides to issues or people that are not always readily apparent. This could be summed up in truisms like "don't judge a book by its cover" or "appearances can be deceiving." In fact, the very frame story of the book is set up as a woman re-examining her childhood and finding truths that were not at the time apparent.

A prime example of this is Uncle Chris. Uncle Chris is called the "black Norwegian" not only because of his dark complexion and hair, but because he is the sort of "black sheep" of the family, always yelling and stomping around, with not a kind word for anyone, in constant fights with Mama's Aunts. Uncle Chris, by...