 In this regard, then, Himelblau notes that "is also, as far as we are aware, the first novel in Spanish America that seeks to render fictional reality of time as a function of point of view".The novel defies traditional narrative style by inserting numerous episodes that contribute little or nothing to the plot as the characters in these episodes often appear inconsistently.Instead of relaying the book's themes through characters, Asturias uses repetition of motifs and a mythical substructure to solidify the book's message.