"Alia watched the sunset from her kitchen window, thinking of the man who refused to appear on the horizon. As the grandfather clock struck 6, she tore her eyes away from her window and began putting together dinner, all the while making sure to put 7 plates on the table instead of 8."
The quote from above appears at the beginning of the novel, soon after Alia realizes that her husband has left her and her children. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, Alia decides to focus on her children and their needs. As such, the decision to prepare 1 less portion of food is seen here as Alia's inner strength.
"The whole family stayed on the sides, watching as Hanna passed them by. They saw the anguish on her face but none of them said anything to make her feel better."
Hanna is another main character in the book who takes the decision to marry a Muslim man. Her decision is harshly criticized by her family who decides to shut her out and break any contact with her. Even when it became clear that Hanna was suffering, none of her family tried to help her. This quote is significant because it proves just how important it was for the rest of the family the religion of a person who married into the family.
"The air seemed sweeter in Palestine, filled with a certain quality that Michael found nowhere else."
Michael was born and raised in America but he knew from a young age that he was originally from Palestine. As he grew up, Michael became a successful doctor who got the opportunity to travel all over the world. Among the places visited by Michael, the narrator also included Palestine and the experience is described as being one of the kind. This quote is important because it shows that people in general will always feel an intense connection with their homeland.
