Point of View

The Five-Star Weekend features an extensive cast, making the omniscient narration useful for keeping track of the many characters’ thoughts and feelings. There is one anonymous narrator, however, who speaks for the Nantucket locals. This narrator pops in every ten chapters or so to provide a wider look at the goings-on of the island.

In the prologue, the anonymous narrator announces Hollis’ return to Nantucket: “It’s official, we thought. Hollis Shaw has become a summer person” (11). In this fashion, Hilderbrand characterizes Nantucket as a place full of gossip and speculation. The anonymous narrator provides a glimpse into the implications of Hollis’ actions—something she is mostly oblivious to.

Having the story told through an omniscient narrator is especially useful given the many complex relationships between characters. For instance, the narrator simultaneously conveys Dru-Ann’s and Caroline’s different perspectives during their argument: “Dru-Ann thinks...