Los Angeles

After Joan moves away from New York City following Vic's suicide, she drives to Los Angeles, California. She finds a home on a communal property in Topanga Canyon. Joan makes the decision to come to California because it is where her half sister, Alice, lives. Alice is the only person she has left in the world. Therefore, in moving away from New York Joan does not feel she is giving anything up.

The California climate is oppressively arid and hot. Joan repeatedly mentions these atmospheric details throughout the narrative, those of which become increasingly symbolic of Joan's emotional state. While here, Joan meets and becomes close with Alice. Meanwhile, she develops relationships with Lenny, River, and Eleanor. These experiences in tandem help Joan to confront and move beyond her past. She also becomes pregnant two times. The second time, she gives birth to her daughter, to whom...