It was peculiar how her memory seemed to be going blind with the rest of her. (Chapter 1)

They never asked about him. Didn’t that show how little importance a father has? The invisible man. The absent presence. Pearl felt a twinge of angry joy. Apparently she had carried this off—made the transition so smoothly that not a single person guessed. It was the greatest triumph of her life. (Chapter 1)

In the kitchen, as nowhere else, Ezra came into his own like someone crippled on dry land but effortlessly graceful once he takes to water. However, Mrs. Scarlatti still wasn’t eating. There was nothing he could offer her. (Chapter 4)

It’s not only pot roast…This is something more. I mean, pot roast is really not the right name; it’s more like… what you long for when you’re sad and everyone’s been wearing you down. (Chapter 5)

Often, like a... (Chapter 6)