New York City

The city where Andrea was born and raised, New York is where she returns after a failed stint in graduate school in Chicago. Her earliest memories of the city include her father's death and a near-rape as a teenager. As an adult, the city feels oppressive to her, as she is isolated and unable to connect with the people around her. The nature of the city as a fast-paced environment allows her to not fully confront her problems and keep people at a distance.

Andrea's Apartments

During the novel, Andrea has two apartments, and they both reflect her emotional state in life. Her first apartment is in a place that allows her to have a view of the Empire State Building, and even though she has given up on painting and art, she still is able to draw some measure of solace from the life she...