Catalonia

Catalonia, Spain is referenced in the first short story, “books and roses.” It is the supposed birthplace of Montserrat. The story showcases Spain’s Catholic roots and its racial diversity, as Montserrat’s name—especially her mother’s description of her as a “black Madonna” (2)—is a reference to the Caribbean island and to the more regionally located mountain range around Barcelona, while her skin color is a reference to the country’s large population of people of African descent. The Catalonia portrayed in this chapter is replete with art and wealth in the figures of Lucy’s paintings and Salazar’s library, and lush with vegetation, roses, and gardens.

London

London is a frequent implied backdrop in a number of the stories. In “presence,” both Jill Akkermann and Jacob Wallace live in London together. They frequently talk on the Tube, a symbol of the city’s bustling...