1.) When Babi said the first quote, it was especially powerful because of the content but also because it shows that not all men during that time were blinded by society's pressures.
2.) When Nana told Mariam this, at first I thought it was really weird for her to tell her child that instead of sugar-coating it, but good thing she did because it was a quote Mariam could look back on throughout her life.
3.) Nana yet again told Mariam something that applied to her throughout her life, and if Nana hadn't told these things to Mariam, then she would have been exposed to the harsh events in her life without having a warning prior.
Overall, this book was very sad yet realistic for some women in the duration of their lives. It shocked me to see how heartless and hypocritical most men were during this era. It was, however, captivating and I was never bored with the story.