Pictures of sexuality
The novel starts with a tense discussion between the sisters about Violet's new girlfriend, Stephanie. Kate was not aware that Violet was attracted to women, but yes, Violet explains that she is bi-sexual, and she has been seeing a woman these days whom she really likes.
Kate is stunned by this news, but Kate's life is also defined by her sexual exploration. But, for her, the sexual intimacy is different; as a mother of children, she is most intimately connected to Hank when they co-parent their kids together, pretending to be a family, pretending their spouses aren't real. Eventually, this precipitates in the two having sex.
Pictures of suburbia
The daycares, the commute back and forth to work, the banal routines that drive Kate nearly crazy—these are all pictures of domestic bliss, a life away from the chaos of the city. Kate lives a suburban life because her goals in life center around her family, especially her two young children. These images help to form a picture of Kate's more conservative, traditional life.
Pictures of urban life
Violet has no interest in settling down and raising a family in the 'burbs. As a more open-minded, spontaneous person, Violet treasures her freedom, and thus, she tends to live a more urban life. She lives a sexy, adventurous single life in the city, hanging out with friends and lovers at bars, hanging out all night. Violet's life looks much different than her sister's life.
Images of catastrophe
The apocalyptic imagery that Violet tells about is nothing short of horrifying. Then there are the depictions of actual earthquakes from all over the world, an omen that serves in the book of Revelation as a sign of the Biblical end times. But all this catastrophic imagery climaxes in a completely docile way, with two lovers sharing an intimate moment. The implication is that although on the surface, Kate and Hank's love seems sweet, the truth is that it will prove catastrophic for her marriage and for the lives of her children.
