Grief is a cruel kind of education.
-- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (chapter 3)

Importance: Adichie expresses the truth that grief is the most difficult kind of education. We learn how angry grief can make us and how useless the standard condolences often are. We also learn how grief is about language itself.

Rather than succor, my memories bring eloquent stabs of pain that say, 'This is what you will never again have.
-- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (chapter 10)

Importance: Adichie finds that living on memories is especially difficult, especially when they bring pain that is almost too great to bear. The standard condolences are of no help to her.

Grief is not gauzy; it is substantial, oppressive, a thing opaque.
-- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (chapter 11)

Importance: Adichie often finds the truth about grief in expressing what it is not. She finds it to be very heavy, especially in the morning.

A relative of hers said that she was educated and beautiful, fair as an egret.
-- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (chapter 15)

Importance: Adichie relates the unusual...