South Carolina

Many of the stories take place in South Carolina, where Dorothy Allison mentions being born and raised in the introduction. In "River of Names," South Carolina is where the cousins' physical and sexual violence happens -- and is allowed to happen -- making it a place from which they must escape if they want to survive. In this same story, the bridge to Oklahoma on which the narrator's aunt was traveling collapses, condemning her to continue her violent life in South Carolina.

St. Pete Beach, Florida

"Steal Away" and the other stories take place in St. Pete Beach Florida, where Allison really did attend college. The college town is more upscale, near a beach. It also seems to be collegiate, implying that it more upscale and dignified place than the narrators' homes.

Mississippi

The narrator of "I'm Working on My Charm" grew up in Mississippi. There, she...