“She had always believed—vehemently, with great conviction—that the only way to change the world was to destroy it.”

These final words of the Prologue are spoken by an unknown narrator. It is a dramatic opening for Pieces of Her, setting up tension and leaving the reader with a number of questions. These words are echoed at the end of the Epilogue, by Laura Oliver, and the newly revealed context of her life gives the words more meaning.

“‘You are magnificent because you are so uniquely you.’ Laura pressed her hand to her heart. ‘You are talented, and you are beautiful, and you’ll find your way, my love, and it will be the right way, no matter what, because it’s the path that you set out for yourself.’”

Laura says this to Andy early in the novel. At the time, it is something that Andy needs to hear, as she is aimless and uncertain of what she wants. This is another quote that the reader will recognize when it appears later, as something cult member Laura Juneau says to Jane (Laura Oliver)—something the latter clearly takes to heart.

“Maybe that was Laura’s secret. She had dozens, even hundreds, of friends, but not one single person knew all of the pieces of her.”

Andy recognizes her mother’s unknowability. This sets up one of the fundamental themes of the novel, the question of Pieces of Identity, and how well we can ever truly know another, even a loved one. This recognition also begins Andy’s quest to discover more about her mother—and by extension, herself.