I'm not interested in anything.""Ari. Babe.""Which might make sense if I was all consumed with thoughts of baby-food making and craft projects and sleep-training philosophies and bouncy-chair brands, but I really can't get all that excited about any of that shit either. So basically I have no idea what to do with myself, Paul.
-- Ari (November, Pages 1-30 paragraph 1)

Importance: The author immediately sets up Ari's state of mind and her depressed state over the changes in her life since the birth of her son. She feels that she should be feeling better about her life by now but her husband thinks she needs more time to adapt. He really isn't equipped emotionally to know how to help her through this period but he tries to be patient with her.

Such a mindfuck, right? Can't sleep? Weird dreams? Sciatica, indigestion? Peeing constantly, sick of being told to, like, 'enjoy this time?' And people...
-- Mina (November, Pages 31-63 paragraph 11)