I was born in the middle of my very first argument.
-- Peter Mendelssohn ("Thirteen Ways of Looking:" Chapter 1 paragraph 1)

Importance: This quote is the first in a series of sentences of Peter explaining what shaped him as a person. In this sentence, he explains that his first law argument "birthed" him.

They will find out that it was Mendelssohn's son, Elliot, who secretly installed the nannycams to keep an eye on Sally.
-- Narrator ("Thirteen Ways of Looking:" Chapter 3 paragraph 5)

Importance: The sentence acts as a form of characterization for Elliot. Through this, we learn that Elliot does not trust Sally for some reason.

Used to be that he'd read the paper cover to cover, minus the sports, then fold out the crossword puzzle, finish it in twenty minutes flat. Not anymore.
-- Peter Mendelssohn ("Thirteen Ways of Looking:" Chapter 4 paragraph 4)

Importance: Here, Peter compares what he can mentally and physically do compared to when he was younger.

The nurse is, by all appearances, well looked after. She wears a large coat with fur on the collar.
-- Narrator ("Thirteen Ways of Looking:" Chapter 5 paragraph 9)

Importance: The...