When I was a kid, not much older than you, I was certain I'd grow up to be a writer.
-- Karen (chapter 1)

Importance: This is the opening line of the novel and immediately sets out the narrator, Karen's intentions. She comments that people do not often become what they thought they would be or what they might have wanted to be when they were young and yet here she is, writing a book. The reader can subsequently see a parallel between Karen's early ambitions and what she has finally gotten around to doing. Even though writing has not been her profession through her adult life, she is now writing for the most important reason of all: to share herself with Jacob. It is as if she is finally getting her wish. The reference to "you" also gets the reader immediately involved in the story-writing process Karen is going through for Jacob's book.

I...
-- Karen (chapter 1)