Anyone who says I have no regrets is either a psychopath or a liar. I am neither of those things, simply adept at keeping secrets.
-- Narrator (Here Lies Sister Mary)

Importance: At the start of the novel, Nan establishes herself as an unreliable narrator. The above quotation appears on the page shortly after Nan describes her attempt on another woman's life. Though she confesses that the experience brought her some joy, she asserts that she is neither psychopathic or a liar. Because these moments contradict one another, the reader is left questioning the veracity of Nan's account. This moment not only complicates Nan's character and narration, but infuses the narrative with a sense of mystery by establishing the central narrative tension.

But when you're young, a single moment seems like the whole world. It feels permanent.
-- Narrator (Here Lies Sister Mary)

Importance: Shortly after describing her arrival at the Sunday Corner convent in County Cork, Ireland, Nan's narration assumes a retrospective stance...