He walked funny, kind of leaning. like a big magnet was pulling him into the middle of the crossroad.
-- Marina (chapter 1)

Importance: Marina tells this to the officer who arrives on the scene after the first suicide in Midnight. Her description foreshadows the fact that something supernatural is causing people to commit suicide. It also helps place the residents of Midnight in the clear regarding his death as Marina, someone the officer knows, witnessed the suicide.

These reasons were good enough to keep the Reeds out of town meetings.
-- Narrator (chapter 1)

Importance: The quote appears after Joe expresses his surprise that Olivia was able to get Madonna to talk to her. It lets readers know that the residents do not view the Reeds as being part of the community.

For all Fiji knew, it was accounted a terrible sin in any religion. But how could your find out for sure?
-- Narrator (chapter 2)

Importance: Fiji thinks about whether or not...