Dan’s Vacation House

The area in and around Evie’s friend Dan’s vacation house is the setting for the present day section of the narrative. The setting reinforces Evie’s status as an outsider who does not have a real family, real life of her own, or any sort of sense of belonging. She is automatically an outsider because she is staying in someone else’s house and this is reinforced by the arrival of Dan’s son Julian and his girlfriend Sasha who have more of a claim on the place as home than Evie does, further marginalizing her.

Evie’s House

Evie’s house is a location associated with boredom, sadness, and a lack of emotional connection. This begins with the divorce of Evie’s parents and the subsequent lack of interest and attention that Jean and Carl bestow on the daughter as they begin...