Points of View

The point of view of this autobiographical novel is first person. This point of view is honest and reliable, though some of the stories seem far-fetched, such as the story about the black snake in the forge. Nevertheless, the narrator is honest in so many other things, things that could be embarrassing if he were trying to conceal anything, that the voice is trustworthy.

Despite the first-person point of view, we're able to see the story fairly objectively through dialogue and through the well-told actions of others. The chapters usually end with an introspective thought by the narrator, which sums up the chapter and explains what Laye has learned from this particular episode in his life.

Because of the first-person point of view and because this book is so autobiographical, there has been debate over whether this book is fiction or non-fiction. In form and in...