The chapters each follow a character in three separate times. Because there is no similarity of plot arc or tieing the timelines together on a point by point basis, it could have (more sensibly) been told in complete sections covering all of each characters' journey in order. The Orpheus and Eurydice myth was incompletely grafted onto the overall plot to no positive effect. The writing was heavy-handed, preach, and sometimes clunky with "he ate the apple, or he didn't" style statements throughout. The main thread of the John and C plotline was interesting for what it was.