Point of View

Megan Mason bases her novel on Martha’s point of view exclusively. At first glance, the first-person narrative and somewhat linear timeline, once she introduces her parents, give the reader the impression of following a memoir. This impression promotes the reader’s emotional investment into Martha’s predicament though it also calls for a certain level of detachment. One cannot help but notice that, as she describes her husband Patrick, her parents, and her childhood, Martha is overly critical. This is particularly obvious when it comes to Patrick with whom she finds every fault whereas others, even her own mother, consider him a gem. Additionally, writing in hindsight, Martha betrays her own narrative from the very beginning. In a digression from her “memoir,” Martha recalls a GIF called “Prince William asking Kate if she wants another drink” (3) which both she and Ingrid agreed characterized Patrick...