Point of View

The book is written in first-person from Anna's perspective and is a retrospective account of the events that led to her losing custody of Molly. The fact that the work is written in first-person allows us entry into Anna's mind and emotional life, putting us in a position to assess her in a more subtle and nuanced way than any character in the book, including even Anna herself. Recall that Anna is her own harshest critic, and her words often depict a much less complex and kind person than her thoughts do. Though Anna presents herself almost as a simpleton, and has grown accustomed to thinking of her personal achievement as mediocre when compared with the more showy accomplishments of her successful family members, she is anything but mediocre, as her searchingly honest inner dialogue reveals. Anna appears to be a remarkably impartial and reliable narrator...