And yet, even as my life shattered in pieces, I felt as if I were finally coming up for air.
-- Narrator (In the Bookstore)

Importance: This quote encapsulates the narrators struggle in a broad sense, in that she must undergo difficulty in order to ultimately better herself. The quote refers to a relationship ended by her partner's infidelity, but broadly applies to her struggle to acclimate to the company of others instead of living in self-imposed solitude. The use of figurative language in the form of simile deepens the feeling of being free from oppression, and also plays into the symbolism of water which is prevalent throughout the work.

Solitude: it's become my trade.
-- Narrator (In My Head)

Importance: Solitude is the most significant theme of the novel and the principle struggle the narrator must face. Living in self-imposed solitude, the narrator simultaneously dreads the company of others and seeks it. Lahiri dedicates much of the novel to an examination...