From: Christine Hill <chill>
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 14:12:17 -0500

Since discussion is lagging a bit, I hope no one will mind my mentioning an adult book, one that is about a child, Angela's Ashes. It is, I think, the finest treatment of POV that I've ever read. The two year old chapter is told entirely from the POV of a two year old, the six year old chapter from the POV of a six year old, etc. Even though the narrator reflects back on earlier experiences, it is as a six year old reflecting on the two year old or the twelve year old reflecting on the six year old, etc. Never does the adult sensibility intrude. Absolutely masterful, I thought.

I can only echo others' comments on Go and Come Back, but I'd like to remark on my favorite passage, when Alicia explains to the anthropologists how babies are made. Alicia tells them a number of
"facts" which we would consider incorrect, then stresses that a woman must have sex with several men to insure a healthy baby; but not too many others. I felt myself metaphorically wiping my brow with relief. Her explanation why made me laugh out loud at my own naivete. One of the delights of this book was of being constantly surprised.

Christine M. Hill Willingboro Public Library One Salem Road Willingboro, NJ 08046 chill at willingboro.org
Received on Sat 21 Nov 1998 01:12:17 PM CST