Olga was better than Mabel.
-- Narrator (The Napkins)

Importance: At the start of the novel, Olga compares hers and her cousin Mabel's lives. Although the cousins used to be close, in the narrative present, their dynamic is built upon competition. In this moment, Olga tells herself that she is fundamentally better than her cousin because she has had more experienced and accomplished greater feats. This passage is significant in that it establishes the importance of success in Olga's life. She wants to believe that because she has followed a traditional American path, that she has more self-worth than others. Despite the assertive tone of this line, it foreshadows Olga's later revelations regarding her vocational and personal insecurities.

This type of intimacy was unfamiliar, leaving her unsure how to act.
-- Narrator (Morning Routine)

Importance: On the morning after Olga and Matteo sleep together for the first time, Olga starts to doubt herself. She likes Matteo, but is unaccustomed to...