Part 1, Pages 49 - 71 Summary

The author turns to the times of her early childhood when she was introduced to books and the joy of storytelling. She admits that in spite of how close she is to her mother, she has pledged to never use her mother as a fictional character in anything she writes. In her memories of her childhood, the author believes that she was lonely, and out of this loneliness, she began hatching stories. Out of her loneliness, she began asking questions and she believes that in her case, her writing was her attempt to find answers.

Isabel next turns in her book to her relationship with Tío Ramón. He shared a vehicle with another man and they would take Isabel's brothers and mother out for rides. Sometimes they would go to the orchards at a mental institution to...