Tel Aviv, Israel

A great deal of the novel takes place in Tel Aviv, as both Jules and Nicole have traveled there seeking to discover something about themselves. The apartment Jules rents after moving out of the Tel Aviv Hilton is near the ancient port of Jaffa. Nicole says that she feels "that an authentic life was more possible" (73) in Tel Aviv. She admires the "dilapidation" (73) of the infrastructure, and the way the natives bustle about underdressed for the weather, seemingly keeping themselves warm by sheer force of will. The city has its flaws however, as the Israelis and Palestinians remain locked in conflict, and Nicole is forced to seek shelter in basements during bombings. Later in the novel, while Jules is in the process of renting an apartment, the author provides a counterpoint to the enthusiasm for Tel Aviv espoused by Jules and Nicole through the thoughts of...