Parenthood is the story two people start telling together.
-- Narrator (First Comes Love)

Importance: This quote encapsulates the novel's theme of parenthood as well as the author's running use of metafiction. The comparison of parenthood to a story also expresses the many conflicts and challenges that accompany starting a family.

This was the era of Bernhard Goetz shooting black boys on the subway and many white folks in the city cheering him on.
-- Narrator (First Comes Love)

Importance: In this quote, the narrator references a racially charged historical event: Bernhard Goetz shot four black teenagers on the subway because he suspected they were muggers, and a predominantly white jury acquitted him of attempted murder charges. It contextualizes the setting and Apollo's experiences with racism. It also sheds light on the author's views on bias in the criminal justice system and white citizens' complicity in that bias.

Hello, Brian. I'm so happy to meet you.
-- Apollo (Then Comes Marriage)

Importance: In this moment, Apollo names his...