Point of View

The novel is told from the first person point of view, by the narrator and protagonist, Frank Bascombe. Frank is often witty and is usually even-tempered and shares many ideas about his past through his personal thoughts. While the reader is able to clearly understand Frank’s thoughts and feelings, at times this can be a disadvantage. The reader is unable to clearly tell how other important characters such as Bascombe’s son Paul, or his ex-wife Ann, are feeling. Assumptions can be made about their own personal thoughts by analyzing their actions and conversations with Frank. The reader often learns things about Frank from the other individuals within the novel.

Setting

The novel begins and ends in Haddam, New Jersey. Frank takes the reader to upstate New York and to Connecticut as well. The towns are all typical American places, and he visits rest...