In "Last Night in Montreal," Emily St. John Mandel captures the distance and emotional divide between characters through the evocative imagery of geography. The phrase "Montreal was less than two inches to the north" signifies not just a physical location, but also the complexities and entanglements of their relationships and pasts. It highlights how close yet distant individuals can feel from places and from each other, emphasizing the themes of longing and displacement.

The characters navigate a world where memories and connections are layered, often obscured by the very nearness they seem to possess. Mandel's narrative explores this tension, illustrating how the proximity to a place like Montreal can evoke deep feelings of nostalgia and unresolved issues, ultimately shaping the characters' identities and choices. The author skillfully blends the intimate with the geographical, creating a rich tapestry of human experience.