Maverick of the grand Communist Party of Romania and vampire to the necks of millions. Illegal metaphor? Absolutely.
-- Narrator (Chapter 2)

Importance: At the outset of the novel, the author enacts this quotation in order to portray the depth of surveillance and oppression in Romania during Ceausescu’s regime. Citizens were banned from critiquing the state and critiqued their own thoughts due to fear. While Cristian privately muses on the dictator’s laws, he knows that his criticism is unlawful and does not express his ideas to friends or family out of fear.

Remember, Cristian, you never know who's listening.
-- Cici (Chapter 3)

Importance: Throughout the novel, Cici warns her brother not to trust anyone and be careful of what he says out loud. The author utilizes this moment to foreshadow the later revelation that Cici worked with both the Securitate and American resistance. She warned her brother to be careful because she knew the ramifications of being...