Placing on writers the responsibility to represent a culture is an onerous burden. Amy Tan burdencultureonerous Change image and share on social
That was a wonderful period in my life. I mean, I didn't become an artist, but somebody let me do something I loved. What a luxury, to do something you love to do. Amy Tan artistlifelove Change image and share on social
I have survivor skills. Some of that is superficial - what I present to people outwardly - but what makes people resilient is the ability to find humour and irony in situations that would otherwise overpower you. Amy Tan abilityfindhumour share on social
My favorite anything is always relative to the context of present time, place and mood. When I finish a book and want to immediately find another by the same author and no other, that author is elevated to my favorite. Amy Tan authorbookcontext share on social
My parents had very high expectations. They expected me to get straight A's from the time I was in kindergarten. Amy Tan expectexpectationhigh Change image and share on social
I loved fairy tales when I was a kid. Grimm. The grimmer the better. I loved gruesome gothic tales and, in that respect, I liked Bible stories, because to me they were very gothic. Amy Tan biblefairygothic Change image and share on social
I learned to forgive myself, and that enabled me to forgive my mother as a person. Amy Tan enableforgivelearn Change image and share on social
When I go back and read my journals or fiction, I am always surprised. I may not remember having those thoughts, but they still exist and I know they are mine, and it's all part of making sense of who I am. Amy Tan backexistfiction share on social
Writing is an extreme privilege but it's also a gift. It's a gift to yourself and it's a gift of giving a story to someone. Amy Tan extremegiftgive Change image and share on social
Words to me were magic. You could say a word and it could conjure up all kinds of images or feelings or a chilly sensation or whatever. It was amazing to me that words had this power. Amy Tan amazechillyconjure Change image and share on social