Point of View

The novel is written in the third person and includes quotes broken up by hyphens without the normal identification of the speaker. Often times, the reader is left to determine who is speaking when confronted with the unidentified quotes.

Setting

The setting is a rural settlement of mud huts in South Africa contrasted with the former city life of the Smales (through recollections). The story is set in the modern day. Exact dates are not given, but the events presumably take place during the mid to late 80s or possibly even early 90s in South Africa. The characters recall events from the past, making it difficult to pinpoint a precise date or year.

Language and Meaning

The language is conversational English and without formality.

Structure

The novel is divided into unnumbered Sections. Each section consists of events taking place during a short period of time...