Her father was intolerant of cheese. He was intolerant of America."
-- Yuki (Quinacridone Gold paragraph 8)

Importance: Yuki's mother is making cheeseburgers as a last ditch effort at American assimilation before the Oyamas return to Japan. Yuki's father's intolerance of cheese is compared here to his intolerance of America, whereas Yuki (and her mother to some extent) are more open-minded. The parallel between cheese and America is also a comical juxtaposition, and it makes for a good use of indirect characterization.

What was a greater symbol of faith than starvation? Didn't saints do it? Hadn't the Buddha given up food when he meditated?"
-- Yuki (Goethite Ochre paragraph 2)

Importance: Yuki has stopped eating, largely to be more like Odile, who has an eating disorder. Yuki is desperate for Odile's approval and acceptance. The religious connotations of this statement indicate that Odile is like a god to Yuki, and throughout the novel Yuki will continually create problems for herself by elevating others in...