Washington, D.C.

The majority of the narrative is set in Washington, D.C. This is the city in which Monk grew up. He visits D.C. at the start of the novel for a writer's conference, and reunites with his sister and mother while here for the first time in three years. Because Monk lives in Los Angeles, California, he has had distance from his home and family. When he returns, he discovers that Lisa and Mother are having a harder time than he expected.

After Lisa is killed, Monk takes a leave of absence from his teaching job and moves back to D.C. to care for Mother. Throughout his time back in the city, Monk is forced to confront his past, his delusions, and his unattended guilt and personal failure.

Mother's House

Mother's house is located in D.C. Monk moves back into the house when...