California

All of the stories collected in Afterparties take place in Central California. Though specific towns remain unnamed, this West Coast setting dictates many of the stories' atmospheres and moods. The narrators will describe their home as either depressed and stagnant, or reliable and familiar. Oftentimes the characters move away for a time, and then return to their Central California home. This return symbolizes their attempts to reconnect with their pasts, yet also leaves the characters in a state of stasis. Ultimately they must learn how to balance their attachment to home with their desire to make new futures.

Chuck's Donuts

In "Three Women of Chuck's Donuts," Chuck's Donuts is the primary setting. The donut shop is owned by a single mother named Sothy. Not long after immigrating to California from Cambodia, Sothy opened the shop with the help of a loan from her ex-husband's uncle. After her divorce...