This was never supposed to happen to her.
-- Narrator (Joan Didion) (chapter 2)

Importance: This quote, which Joan repeats in reference to the deaths of both her daughter and her friend Natasha Richardson, demonstrates the denial many people feel toward death and illness. Everyone believes oneself and one's loved ones to be immune to the curse of premature illness, loss, and death. This is an example of Joan's failure to confront those certainties as well as her belief in her own family's immunity. This is a sentiment that many readers will likely relate to, as they may also frequently only imagine tragedy touching other people.

I no longer value this kind of memento. I no longer want reminders of what was, what got broken, what got lost, what got wasted. (chapter 7)

Importance: This quote is connected to the symbolic importance of Joan's mementos that include possessions formerly belonging to her deceased loved ones. This quote also speaks to...