Point of View

In broadest terms, the narrative is written from the third person point of view. There are times when that point of view is quite objective, recounting events as the characters experienced them. There are also, however, several occasions when the author inserts commentary and/or observations about the characters' experiences, both in the moment they're being described and at points later in the characters' lives. An example of this is how, at one point, narration comments on the origins of Henrietta's belief that nothing real ever happens (Part 3, Chapter 1) - a demonstration of how the narrative occasionally offers opinions and attitudes rather than simply narrating what happened. At points such as these, the narrative takes on a slightly lecturing tone - not patronizing, just a bit self-conscious of its own meaning and intent.

On another note, the narrative frequently shifts back and forth between the focus...