This novel touches on many psychological and religious ideas in the course of the story. It also has much to say about relationships within the family and community. Its chronology is both linear and circular, with plot events interwoven with the timeless rhythms of the Christian year and of the centuries. The nature of time, the meaning of the liturgical year and its feasts, and the extent to which children repeat the patterns of their parents, are all topics suggested by its structure.

Unlike the protagonists of many coming-of-age novels, Margare t chooses a profession and identity without going through serious rebellion.

Groups might want to discuss how often this happens, and compare it to other novels, such as Susan Isaacs' Close Relations (1982), whose protagonists likewise choose courses that reflect their upbringing.

1. Almost one half of the entire book is taken up, or at least framed...