Maps

Throughout the novel, maps in a variety of forms represent the unnavigable terrain of history. The roadmaps on which the family relies to find their way from New York to Arizona act as symbols of the more complex narrative spaces they seek to explore. Through stories, oral accounts, and their ventures across the country, each member of the family attempts to inhabit the erased landscapes of both past and present lives.

The Boxes

The boxes the family carries with them on their journey symbolize the many and varied catalogues of historical voices and accounts. Just as each member of the family has her own box of books, maps, and recordings, so each individual character in history has her own version of the truth. As the author gradually reveals the contents of the boxes, the reader begins to understand the multitude of recorded renditions of the same...