Slowy the Turtle

Slowy represents the grieving process. It is so slow that it is often life-stalling, just as Cory's grief stalled his life. Alby's meticulous documentation of Slowy's every move is actually what causes his death. As Cory cares for Slowy over the years following Alby's death, he manages to heal his grief.

Sofa Beds

Sofa beds represent impermanence and make constant appearances throughout the novel to represent the transient lifestyles that most characters in Wolitzer's novel lead. As Cory, Zee and Greer fight to find permanence in their lives, they find themselves in liminal spaces, staying on sofa beds. Throughout Greer's fling with her Loci co-worker, they spend entire weekends on his futon. When Greer confesses her betrayal to Zee, Zee imagines explaining all of this to Noelle while Greer spends the night on their sleeper sofa. Finally, when Cory visits Greer in New York...