As I scratched the surface of the pink book, it revealed a brilliant shine similar to na Hala’s rough pebbles. The story seems to occur on different levels, the surface story being the lives of the Norvals, their adopted Spanish child and the people around them. Gossip surrounds the adoption of Lola. Some link the increasing acquisition of the Norval’s wealth to the possibility that Lola directed them to gold. Reverend Hackwell contributes to more talk about the family through his sermons.

The novel is filled with all sorts of communication. Perhaps it is the author’s conscious choice that the story begins with a conversation between Reverend Hackwell and Reverend Hammerhead. But perhaps the unspoken should be given more attention to what is said.

Dr. Norval had asked Lebrun to transcribe the final words of Lola’s Mother. The letter gets lost and ends up in the dead-letter office. Isaac, Dr. Norval’s brother-in-law, stumbles upon the letter and decides to keep it.

A series of questions surrounded the disappearance of the letter in my head. It is almost too coincidental that a series of Isaac’s misfortunes ultimately leads to his discovery of the letter. At certain times, the author also makes her presence known for the second time by writing “[w]e will give a whole chapter to her patriotism in due” (69) despite the novel being written from a third person’s perspective.

The close proximity between the association between omnipotence of the narrator and God makes the author’s interventions almost seem miraculous. Perhaps it mirrors confusion. Is it the parent’s decision to choose the religion for the child?
The brilliance of the novel is seen through underlying layers of questions as such. Because of Lola’s dark complexion, Mrs. Norval automatically assumes that she is only either of African or Indian descent. She does not take into account any other race that falls in the non-white category nor is she interested in finding out. But perhaps the bigger question is that of class. Does social standing (defined by wealth) matter more than race or gender? Mrs. Norval was willing to be Lola’s servant after seeing the gold, diamond and opals. She even entertained the idea of being Lola’s mother-in-law. Perhaps on the same level, Dr. Norval thinks class is the bigger discrimination as well. He says that through Lola’s wealth, the color of her skin will melt and she will find a suitable husband.