Point of View

Most of the stories are written in the first person and the past tense. Some stories, such as “Switzerland” are written specifically from a retrospective perspective, as the narrator looks back on events that occurred years in the past. Meanwhile, some stories are written from a more in-the-moment perspective, which emphasizes a sense of uncertainty and anxiety about the future. For example, “Zusya on the Roof,” “End Days,” and “Future Emergencies” bear that trait. Notably, in several stories, the central character is not the narrator. For example, in “In the Garden,” the central character is arguably the architect, although the narrator’s perspective is still vital. Similarly, “Amour” focuses more on Sophie and Ezra than on the narrator.

Even though each story only has one point-of-view character, the stories still develop other characters’ perspectives through their actions and dialogue. For example, in “The Husband,” Tamar...