Observations and Reflections on "These Ghosts Are Mine"

I noticed quickly that you tend to fragment your sentences into short, stylistic snapshots of specific details. Even in longer sentences when illustrating how "the neon interrupt[s] everything, replace[s] the expanse - light here, one light there, Ireland in summer - with a floating department store," your syntax naturally divides itself through commas and dashes. Although this provide the reader generous amounts of vivid imagery, it's ineffective at establishing environments and may possibly detract itself of its potency if used too closely together too often.

I always appreciate when writers personify their locations in order to engross their audience, but I'm also curious: why such an emphasis on environmental descriptions? Are they what strike you the most when you travel? Why not the people or culture? Do the images you craft represent something more than what the reader may suspect?