What is the author's style in Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis?

A few repeated phrases give insight into the characters' personalities. The narrator remarks more than once that Zorba looks at everything as if he is seeing it for the first time, implying a child-like innocence augmented by the man's knowing experience. Zorba has a few favorite phrases, as well, including "The devil take them!" which the narrator picks up from time to time. Zorba also comes back time and again to the question of God and the mystery of women, varying his language only slightly. Several times he swears that if a certain event transpires, everything will fall to pieces and "I'll be done for!"