Her old life and new life were always in a mixing bowl like flour and sugar.
-- Pearl (Chapter 6)

Importance: Here, Pearl is talking about her mother's past life as the wealthy daughter of an influential family. The mingling of past and present is essential to Margot's character.

I knew there were thousands of bullets in the riverbed. Some had even washed up to the shore and were mixed in with gravel.
-- Pearl (chapter 7)

Importance: The river behind the trailer park is a prime spot for the local men to shoot their guns at nothing, occasionally hoping to hit an alligator by chance. Here, Pearl describes the litter of bullets that make up the bed of the river.

When Pastor Rex said the word ‘Eli,’ I did not know that we were in trouble. I did not know that my mother was this man’s deer to hunt and that his name would be the song inside...
-- Pearl (chapter 9)