The Brooklyn Basement

The Brooklyn Basement, where Oona parties in 1982, is used a symbol for youth. Throughout the novel, when Oona is feeling nostalgic she ponders the New Year's Eve party in the basement. Her attachment to her life as an 18 year old is exemplified by her fixation on the mirror walled room.

The Subway

Throughout the novel, the author uses the subway as a symbol for escapism. The characters ride the train when they are trying to avoid facing problem. Oona rides the subway to Dale's apartment when she is in denial about the first time shift. When she wants to run away from her marriage to Edward she is on the F train.

Water

Water is a symbol of Oona's fear of the future. As a child she watched her father fall overboard and drown in a boating accident. This established Oona's belief that water...