Point of View

The point of view in this novel is exclusively Elena's. It is written in first person, and often, the reader may wonder how Elena knows what may have occurred during an event in which she did not take part. There is some suspension on the reader's part here, as they must assume that she was present, or that the events were simply related to her. At other points, she author does a good job of not discussing certain things, for example, the physical relationship between Lila and Stefano, because she isn't with them when they're alone together. Because the story is written from Elena's perspective, the events are filtered through her own prejudice and attachment to Lila, and her own wishes and desires in comparison to Lila's successes.

Language and Meaning

This novel is translated from the original Italian, and the sentences are sometimes halting...