The importance of family history
The novel is primarily concerned with the intersection of one's personal life and the personal lives of people in the past, especially family. Past scandals and mistakes bear consequences that extent into the present, and for Edie, the stars seem to align to give her such a well-rounded picture of what exactly the past holds.
The difficulties of courtship and love
The novel features a social novel's perspective on romance, gossip, and on drama in general. These many twists and secrets are both interesting and informative.
Lifelong concerns and the promise of forgiveness
This story features a complex social cast, so it's no wonder that one of the main features of the novel is to offer forgiveness and peace between different people, to help them move into the future with a sense of resolve. In a word, the novel is about closure.
