Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Port-au-Prince is the capitol city of Haiti, and the place where the 2010 earthquake strikes on January 12, 2010. All of the main characters in the novel are from Port-au-Prince and possess a close connection to the city.

When the 2010 earthquake occurs, Ma Lou, Sara, Sonia, Richard, Leopold, Taffia, Olivier, and Jonas are all in Port-au-Prince. Ma Lou is working in the market. Sara is sending her daughters off to school. Sonia is working at the Hotel de la Montagne Noire. Richard is venturing down from the hotel to the ocean for a swim. Leopold is riding the hotel elevator. Taffia is meeting her siblings and friends at her aunt's house to watch her favorite telenovela. Olivier is away from home, and venturing back towards the house to reconvene with his family, and Jonas is returning home from running a market errand.

Throughout the novel, the author depicts scenes of...