Comment on setting

The setting is mostly in the state of New York — Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and New York City. A small part takes place in the unnamed desert town where Jess is born. No matter where she goes, Jess carries the desert with her, as a peaceful place to which she can "return" in times of stress and sorrow. She calls it "The Land Where They Don't Mind" (page 23). Jess experiences her worst oppression in the conservative city of Buffalo, which is often bitterly cold, unlike her initial, warm desert home. The chill of Buffalo often reflects her frozen feelings, the protective silence that traps her emotions inside.