Butler does not use a lot of complicated methods in “Snow.” It is fairly simple. It is written in a simple style, nothing is too technical, yet it is still a powerful story. “Snow” is in first person, told by a Vietnamese girl who works at a Chinese restaurant. Part of the reason behind the simple language of the story is writing is probably to reflect a language barrier, but it also reflects how she is naive. Butler makes his character seem almost childlike. She blurts out anything that comes to mind and her internal dialogue is not overly complex. Also, her attraction/love for Mr. Cohen is young and naive and she holds him to high regard even though she does not really know him. Still, the conversation she has with Mr. Cohen about Christmas and snow touches does not reflect that this story is simple just because of the style it is written in.
Butler also does a good job of placing the reader in the setting. He opens “Snow” with descriptions of Mr. Cohen and moves easily into explaining The Plantation Hunan as well as the narrator and her background. This puts the reader right there and it becomes and easy and believable story, as well as enjoyable. The setting and the characters are explained only through the eye of the narrator, so we have a biased view, but it is a colorful one nonetheless and it gives the reader a closer look into the thoughts and opinions that she has. It also makes her seem like a person. She has personality and little traits that make her human.
“Snow” is a well rounded story that uses a simple style to tell a complex story. It’s character and place are described well and put the reader right there alongside the narrator.