I've always considered myself to be, basically, a lucky person.
-- Toby (chapter 1)

Importance: This chapter introduces the major theme of luck in the novel. It illustrates the foundation of Toby's self-image, and introduces Toby through his casual tone. The word "basically" which is inserted into the sentence serves to qualify the statement. It implies that Toby is unsure of his own luck, or considers his luck to be limited in some way. It also makes Toby appear to be an approachable, casual person, because "basically" is used as slang in this sentence.

Like I said, I wasn't used to worrying, and the intensity of those moments took me aback. In facile hindsight it’s tempting to see them as a premonition gone awry, a wild danger signal propelled to me by the force of its own urgency and then scrambled, ever so slightly but fatally, by the limitations of my mind.
-- Toby (chapter 1)

Importance: This quote...