Lucia still entertained the fantasies of a young girl despite the fact that she was almost sixty two. She had a wrinkled neck, dry skin, and flabby arms; her knees were heavy; and she had become resigned to watching her waist disappear because she did not have the discipline to combat the process in the gym. Although she had youthful breasts, they were not hers. She avoided looking at herself naked, because she felt much better when she was dressed.
-- Narration (Section 1)

Importance: This quote defines some of the essential elements of Lucia, one of the book's three central characters. For her, sexuality and sensuality - and the health of her life as a whole - are, on a fundamental level, defined by her relationship with her body.

At that moment, [Richard] clearly saw how small and limited his existence had become. Then he really did feel afraid, afraid of having wasted so...
-- Narration (Section 1)