The 8

Much of the novel takes place at a public housing complex in Amesbury, Massachusetts; all of the residents refer to the complex as the 8. The 8 is relatively decrepit and ugly. In order to qualify for the housing, residents must remain under a certain income level. Beyond their struggles with poverty, many of the residents also grapple with addiction and other obstacles. Numerous characters in Such Kindness live at the 8, including Tom, Trina and her children, Fitz, Mrs. Bongiovanni, Doug, and Minh. Although Tom believes, in the novel’s first half, that he is in some way superior to the rest of the residents, he eventually comes to appreciate the love and kindness that exist at the 8.

Tom's Former Home

In Such Kindness, Tom’s former home plays an important symbolic role. As a younger man, Tom built a home for his wife, Ronnie, and their infant son, Drew...