"I live in a world where two truths coexist: where both hell and hope lie in the palm of my hands."
The narrator, Alice, is reflecting on the irony of the world and how easily it can be good or bad depending on the circumstances. However, with both "hell" and "hope" in her own hands, Alice is realizing that in the end, she is the one who decides her life; she is the one in control.
"I would die in pieces to save myself from real death."
A blunt, harsh statement with profound connotations: Alice would rather die in segments, by being forced to do demeaning actions and insulted, than actually die.
"Since then I've always thought that under rape in the dictionary it should tell the truth. It is not just forcible intercourse; tape means to inhabit and destroy everything."
Alice is saying that the dictionary's definition is entirely too vague and minor. As she explains, rape is much more than just unconsensual sex, but a complete, brutal demolition of the victim with profound psychological effects.
"Who would have thought something that happened that long ago could have such power?"
Here, Alice makes an astute statement that applies both to the novel and the real world outside the book. We, as humans, are so defined by our pasts; it has such powerful hold over us in even our daily lives.
"My life was over; my life had just begun."
The narrator reflects on how after the rape, she believed her life had ended, that she was utterly broken, but in actuality, a new life had merely opened up to her. It shows the contrast between her life pre-rape and afterwards, that to her they are represented as two entirely different juxtaposed segments.
"You save yourself or you remain unsaved."
Alice is observing how in this world, survival really depends on one's own self. Often times, it is completely up to ourselves to "save" ourselves, or heal ourselves. No one else is able to, or will offer any assistance. It is a harsh, yet realistic statement.
