Point of View

Our Fathers is written in the first person, narrated by the main character Jamie Bawn. The author delivers a convincing portrayal of this young man's life, and because it is written in first person, the reader is able to get inside Jamie's head and share in his array of emotions. This allows the reader to know Jamie's thoughts on the frequent occasions that he decides against voicing them audibly. His feelings toward his mother and his girlfriend Karen, for example, are revealed principally by his thoughts rather than his words.

Setting

The story is set in various towns throughout Scotland, with the main bits taking place in Glasgow and Ayrshire. In many scenes, the main character, Jamie Bawn, is riding on a train; this seems to be a fitting backdrop for many key points in his life.

Because the structure is so transitional, the setting changes...