Point of View

The novel’s use of first-person narration creates a paradox: while it is told entirely from Bud’s perspective, the reader often ends up learning more about the people around him than about Bud himself. His voice filters every moment, yet he remains elusive, a mystery even to the reader. This is partly because Bud’s narration is observational rather than introspective. He reports events, relays dialogue, and describes settings with clarity and control, but rarely delves into his own feelings or motivations. This leaves a notable absence at the centre of the novel. Bud is present in every scene, but emotionally and psychologically opaque.

This technique reinforces the novel’s larger themes of detachment and disconnection. Just as Bud keeps the women in his life, particularly Esta and Gladys, at arm’s length, he also keeps the reader at a distance. He does not...