Point of View

The book is written in third person from a semi-limited point of view. Because the story is about Kira and her life in Communist Russia, this point of view is adequate. The reader could gain some knowledge if the view were less limited, but the explanations and details of Kira's life are adequate to explain the story line. For example, Kira learns that Leo is planning to leave with Tonia only after she attends Andrei's funeral. He says that he's been told of her relationship with Andrei and that knowledge makes it easier for him to tell her that he's leaving. The reader has no direct information of Tonia's situation or the offer she made Leo other than what Leo tells Kira, but that limited view is sufficient. There are some scenes that are outside Kira's point of view that are included in the story. Among...