California

California is where most of the events of Quintana's childhood take place. California represents the happy times in Joan's life. Not only is her family alive and well, she also has a wonderful circle of friends and a successful writing career. California does not have blue nights and is a notoriously sunny and bright place. As such, it is symbolic of the failure to acknowledge the future certainties of death, illness, and aging which are represented by the dying of the brightness characteristic of the blue nights.

New York City

New York City is where Joan and her family eventually move to later in Quintana's life. It is also where Joan continues to live after the deaths of her husband and daughter. New York is a place where one can see and experience the blue nights. Thus, since Joan lives there throughout her experiences of loss, grief...