Coldness
Beattie's story "Snow," is set in an incredibly cold climate. This may be deliberate, in order to represent the protagonist's feelings of loneliness and alienation in her interpersonal relationships. As such, the coldness of the weather is symbolic of her lost love.
Snow
The narrator recalls her memories of a winter spent with a lover, saying that "people forget years and remember moments. Seconds and symbols are left to sum things up... What I remember about all that time is one winter. The snow. Even now, saying “snow,” my lips move so that they kiss air." Here, for the narrator, the snow becomes a symbol for a whole winter, reminding her of special moments and memories.
Names
Interestingly, many of Beattie's characters only have first names. This is interesting, as it creates a distance between the characters and the reader, and also contributes to her minimalist style. In "Snow," Beattie rejects names altogether, using pronouns instead.
The Modern Woman
A key motif in Where You'll Find Me is an exploration of what it is to be a modern woman. Many of Beattie's protagonists are women, and through them, she explores what it is like for women to navigate the modern world. Many of her protagonists struggle within their domestic relationships, due to feelings of alienation or a lack of fulfillment.
The Artist
In "Skeletons," the narrator Nancy sacrificed her career as an artist in order to have a family. Although Nancy still sees herself as an artist, she considers the sacrifice she has made, and still considers her past life as being a key part of her identity.
