Perspective

The author, Anne Fadiman, wrote her novel from the first person perspective. While she is not an integral character, she uses the pronoun "I" often. In doing so, she offers the reader her perspective. For instance, she admits to being ignorant of Hmong culture when she first began investigating Lia's circumstances. She was motivated solely by curiosity. She was not aware of Hmong etiquette or cultural taboo. By the middle of the book it is clear the Anne has grown a fondness for the Lee family. She always describes them in a positive light. She clearly empathizes with their plight. She does not, however, place any blame on the medical community. Instead, she tries to enlighten the reader about Hmong culture. This enlightenment could shed light and result in more compassion. To this end, she questions the decisions made regarding Lia. She makes the argument for changes in...