Mystery

Mystery played a huge role throughout the novel. Particularly, the mystery of Lilia’s upbringing had a significant effect on all of the characters in the novel.

Lilia, lacking the ability to remember the early years of her childhood, was plagued by her lack of understanding of herself. Knowing only that she left with her father at 7 years old without having any idea as to why, Lilia felt as if she would be unable to truly connect with the world without knowledge of her own past. In traveling to Montreal, Lilia was seeking the long awaited answer to this mystery.

Christopher, in seeing himself as a failure in his own life, became consumed by the mystery of Lilia’s life. Immersing himself completely in the various questions he had on her upbringing, Christopher lived solely to solve the mystery.

For Eli as well, the mysteries of...