I think I've always been somebody, since the deaths of my father and brother, who was afraid to hope. So, I was more prepared for failure and for rejection than for success. Amy Tan afraidbrotherdeath Change image and share on social
I used to think that my mother got into arguments with people because they didn't understand her English, because she was Chinese. Amy Tan argumentchineseenglish Change image and share on social
I read a book a day when I was a kid. My family was not literary; we did not have any books in the house. Amy Tan bookdayfamily Change image and share on social
I would never require anyone to read any book. That seems antithetical to why we read - which is to choose a book for our personal reasons. I always shudder when I'm told my books are on required reading lists. Amy Tan antitheticalbookchoose share on social
People talk about this 'bucket list': 'I need to go to this country, I need to skydive.' Whereas I need to think as much as I can, to feel as much as I can, to be conscious and observe and understand me and the people around me as much as I can. Amy Tan bucketconsciouscountry share on social
No one in my family was a reader of literary fiction. So, I didn't have encouragement, but I didn't have discouragement, because I don't think anybody knew what that meant. Amy Tan discouragementencouragementfamily Change image and share on social
I would still like to have that luxury, to be able to just sit and draw for hours and hours and hours. In a way, that's what I do as a writer. Amy Tan drawhourluxury Change image and share on social
Placing on writers the responsibility to represent a culture is an onerous burden. Amy Tan burdencultureonerous Change image and share on social
Who knows where inspiration comes from. Perhaps it arises from desperation. Perhaps it comes from the flukes of the universe, the kindness of the muses. Amy Tan arisedesperationfluke Change image and share on social
