It may be the luckiest and purest thing of all to see time sharpen to a single point. To feel the world rise up and shake you hard, insisting that you rise, too, somehow. Some way. That you come awake and stretch, painfully. That you change, completely and irrevocably – with whatever means are at your disposal – into the person you were always meant to be.
-- Martha as narrator (Prologue)

Importance: The quote demonstrates how Martha sees the world around her. Martha is aware of what is happening in Europe as World War II escalates. Martha knows that she could turn away from the news, but knows she has an obligation to pay attention, leading her to write about it.

He’s my idol, Mother. A marvelous glowing idol, and rare sort of person. I only want to be near him awhile and soak up his light. I don’t know how you can blame me...
-- Martha (chapter 7)