Take a story's temperature by studying its tone. Is it hopeful? Cynical? Snarky? Playful?
Colloquial & Matter-of-Fact; Formal and Deliberate
Because we hear the story from so many different points of view and in a variety of voices, you can bet that the tone of the writing shifts quite a bit. Just for grins and giggles, compare the tone of Pilar's narratives to those of Felicia or Celia. Pilar's language is down-to-earth, realistic, current, and pulls no punches. Felicia's language is fragmented, poetic, and frightening, often opting for archaic constructions and a heavy reliance on the sensual. The voice associated with Celia is lyrical, careful, and formal, with sentences drawing out to include details of her well-curated memories.