Sibylla and Ludo’s Home

Much of the novel takes place in Sibylla’s home, where she raises her son Ludo. Sibylla’s former employer, Emma, recommends the house as a cheap place that would allow Sibylla to remain in the country. The house is particularly cheap because its owner cannot afford to make certain key repairs. Throughout the novel, Sibylla and Ludo often leave the house and ride the Circle Line because Sibylla does not have enough money to consistently heat the home. When they do spend time at home, Ludo often studies and reads as Sibylla digitizes magazines.

The Circle Line

Through much of the first half of the novel, Sibylla and Ludo repeatedly ride the Circle Line (a segment of the London Underground) because Sibylla cannot afford to heat their home through the winter. Other riders on the Circle Line often comment on the dense books...