Point of View

Anna Quindlen tells her novel Still Life With Bread Crumbs from the third-person omniscient perspective. While the novel is primarily about Rebecca, the third-person omniscient narrative allows the writers to make sure the reader is fully aware of everything going on in the world of the novel, sometimes before the character is aware of the events. For example, Sarah has no idea why Jim and Kevin hate each other, but the reader learns it is because Kevin insults his wife with fat jokes in front of strangers at a bar. Jim confronts him and calls him out on it. The reader also learns that Jim’s sister Polly has died. For that reason, Jim does not come back to Rebecca’s house. Rebecca, however, believes Jim has ditched her. This omniscient understanding of events in the novel increases frustration and adds drama as Rebecca makes...