Why do you think the author allows certain characters to tell us their stories in their own voices, instead of narrating from a distant third-person narrator?

Think about the sections where the character is speaking from their first-person point of view. Why do you think the author allows certain characters--like Gloria and Maydelis--to tell us their stories in their own voices, instead of narrating from a distant third-person narrator?

I think it makes the story more personal when the character tells their own story. I'm not sure why it was limited to certain characters, but it seems more personal and revealing regarding those particular women.

The change in voice changes the tone of the novel and allows the plot to move along. The change is clearly defined by chapters. I think it is an effective use of this technique.

I like the first person approach - it tends to be more personal and gets across feelings better. Told as a narrative a person is just mechanical and seems to be irrelevant. First person narrative gives us a fuller picture of the person.