Point of View

The point of view of the novel is that of the omniscient narrator, or author who is herself Italian-American and can write from both the inside and outside of that community. In that sense, the book reads somewhat like a fictional family memoir which, in fact, the author says it is. This approach lends the story a more personal and immediate character which helps the reader feel more intimately involved in the narrative.

Language and Meaning

Generally, the story unfolds in plain everyday American English with a rich peppering of Italian phrases thrown in. This helps to lend the story authenticity and the author obviously has done her homework in researching locales, settings, and historical context. Although the story takes place around the turn of the last century, the author's characters use modern words and expressions at some points in the story. For example, Colin...