Coming of Age

The novel’s main theme is Coming of Age, which is the central premise of both Valera and Reno’s stories. Valera’s Coming of Age is defined by external pursuits such as power, wealth, and machines, whereas Reno’s story is defined by more internal issues like self-discovery, love, and solidarity. The novel covers the entirety of Valera’s life from childhood until death, whereas only a short few years of Reno’s life during her twenties are covered. Reno’s life cannot be viewed and judged in totality in the way that Valera’s can, which the author reflects by using a more straightforward, chronological, third person prose style in the Valera sections, and a non-chronological, first person narrative that occasionally cedes the narrative voice to other characters for the Reno chapters.

Valera’s wealthy father paved the way for Valera to...