Point of View

The novel is written from the third person limited point of view. The narration follows Julia’s life from her childhood until her daughter, Alma, is about to leave for college and her son, Ben, plans his wedding with his pregnant fiancé. This novel is an exploration of Julia’s life and the development and progression of her relationship with her eventual husband, Mark. It also delves into Julia’s past and examines her upbringing with a particular emphasis on the development of her relationship with her mother Anita. Finally, the novel focuses on Julia’s role as a mother as seen through her own eyes and through the actions and illustrated actions of Alma and Ben.

Because the novel focuses on emotional and psychological growth as well as on the progression of relationships, the limited perspective helps Lombardo develop her themes because the reader...