Structure

This memoir is divided into eight chapters. Russo begins his book with a description of the place where he and his family scattered his mother’s ashes. The remainder of the first chapter goes back in time to his childhood when he remembered his mother being proud of her independence. The story moves forward at what is basically a linear timeline even though there are a few places where Russo bounces back and forth in time describing different decisions to move.

Perspective

Russo writes his memoir with the perspective of time. He has decided to write about his mother’s influence on his life after her death. For this reason he is able to write about the entire relationship.

Of course, since this is a memoir, it makes sense that Russo writes from the first person point of view. He tells the reader about his experiences from...