In most places it resembled a weed-choked swamp more than it did a proper lake, a cypress forest that had flooded and been abandoned eons ago, and Levi could admit he was scared out here alone.
-- Narrator (Prologue)

Importance: This quote exemplifies the limited knowledge of regional history that most characters in the novel display. Occurring at the beginning of the novel and in the only section told from a white perspective, this line foreshadows attitudes that will reappear throughout the narrative. Based on what he has been taught by the adults in his life, as well as the dominant narratives stemming from the tourism industry, Levi is oblivious to the history of Caddos on Gogo Island and the former slaves who were sheltered on islands.

My family's owned a place in Camilla for over a hundred years...Guess you must be new.
-- Darren (chapter 2)

Importance: This quote comes after Darren was confronted by the...