Ondaatje employs circular travel narrative as an attempt to find himself and to understand his family roots. Running in the Family begins with Michael waking up, alone in a room in Ceylon. Michael travels all throughout Sri Lanka attempting to relive old memories, learn more about his family members, and truly understand the events that he saw take place during his childhood. After all his efforts, Michael forces himself to come to peace with what he has gathered thus far because he realizes that he will never know everything about his father and other relatives. When this occurs, Michael wakes up once more, alone and back in that same room in Ceylon.
