I lie so easily I could have made a career out of it.
-- Narrator (chapter 1)

Importance: At the start of the novel, Eszter reflects upon her decision not to tell the lover about her father or her childhood. She in turn realizes that she has lied about every facet of her life and identity. Doing so was originally a defense mechanism that became a habit for Eszter. Her penchant for lying is a way for her to divorce herself from her past in an attempt to spare herself the associated pain. This moment therefore introduces the author's explorations regarding both the truth and the past. It also establishes Eszter as an unreliable narrator.

Something was finally over—something that had ended a long time before, with the death of Father.
-- Narrator (chapter 1)

Importance: In the wake of the lover's death, Eszter attempts to convey everything that she has kept from him throughout their relationship. In this...