Warping Reality Imagery
One of the major themes of this book is the possibility of separate, simultaneously existent realities. Many quotes go along with this theme, especially the one that could be considered the novel's thesis statement: “I’ll project myself into several futures simultaneously, a minor tremor in my hand; I’ll work my way from irony to sincerity in the sinking city, a would-be Whitman of the vulnerable grid.” This sort of reality-shifting imagery is prevalent throughout the book as the narrator seems to shift realities as the story progress (and regresses, and everything in between).
Hospital Imagery
One of the first scenes of the novel is the narrator in the hospital, where he finds out about his serious heart condition. The hospital is noticeably decorated with depictions of aquatic life, which does nothing to calm the narrator's heart. Additionally, and perhaps with more symbolic meaning, all the doctors are strikingly symmetrical and attractive. This imagery, being surrounded with people more attractive than oneself, could be an indictment against today's social media-driven reality: it's overwhelming comparing yourself to others because everyone else's exterior looks impressively put-together in comparison with your mental state.
Storm Imagery
The novel both begins and ends with a hurricane hitting New York City (Irene and Sandy). Appropriately, there is a lot of imagery regarding this storm, both the physical elements of the storm and prose that is reminiscent of storms. Coupled with the novel's message against environmental neglect, these storms have an important meaning.
Light Imagery
The city lights of New York City are another important element in the novel's imagery. They appear on the photograph on the book's cover, and they are referenced many times in the narrator's mind throughout the novel. They represent the light of life in the midst of uncertain darkness, as well as the spots of life occupied by people in an otherwise unfeeling world (a message brought in by the narrator's appeal to natural disasters).
