They were still in the early days of their lives together. This was their first wedding.
-- Narrator (chapter 1)

Importance: The quote demonstrates the relationship between Jack and Sadie. The couple is not married, but attending a wedding together foreshadows that that their own wedding will eventually follow.

His brothers were mostly dead. That is, there were all of them dead but in his head only mostly; they washed up alive every now and then, and Louis would have to ask himself: Is Phillip alive? Is Julius, Sidney?
-- Narrator (chapter 2)

Importance: The quote illustrates the power of loss and its effects on memory. Louis has lost siblings, but Louis's memory of them makes them feel alive to Louis, causing Louis to question his memory’s accuracy.

Study me, he’d wanted to say to his father: the narrow-footed David, the bearded Levine, the flat-bottomed vegetarian. Write me down in your book.
-- Narrator (chapter 2)

Importance: The quote illustrates David’s need...