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Amy Tan

Look at this face. Do you see my foolish hope?

Look at this face. Do you see my foolish hope?

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Amy Tan

It is because I had so much joy that I came to have so much hate.

It is because I had so much joy that I came to have so much hate.

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Amy Tan

Then you must teach my daughter this same lesson. How to lose your innocence but not your hope. How to laugh forever.

Then you must teach my daughter this same lesson. How to lose your innocence but not your hope. How to laugh forever.

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Amy Tan

I remember wondering why it was that eating something good could make me feel so terrible

I remember wondering why it was that eating something good could make me feel so terrible, while vomiting something terrible could make me feel so good.

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Amy Tan

I began to look at all events and all things as relevant, an opportunity to take or avoid.

I began to look at all events and all things as relevant, an opportunity to take or avoid.

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Amy Tan

I won’t let her change me, I promised myself. I won’t be what I’m not.

I had new thoughts, willful thoughts, or rather thoughts filled with lots of won’ts. I won’t let her change me, I promised myself. I won’t be what I’m not.

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Amy Tan

My mother had a look on her face that I’ll never forget….for being so foolish as to think she could use faith to change fate.

My mother had a look on her face that I’ll never forget. It was one of complete despair and horror, for losing Bing, for being so foolish as to think she could use faith to change fate.

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Amy Tan

maybe it was fate all along, that faith was just an illusion that somehow you’re in control.

I discovered that maybe it was fate all along, that faith was just an illusion that somehow you’re in control.

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Amy Tan

I was no longer scared. I could see what was inside me.

I was no longer scared. I could see what was inside me.

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Amy Tan

Over the years, she told me the same story, except for the ending, which grew darker, casting long shadows into her life, and eventually into mine.

Over the years, she told me the same story, except for the ending, which grew darker, casting long shadows into her life, and eventually into mine.

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Amy Tan

My father thinks she was killed by her own thoughts.

My father has asked me to be the fourth corner at the Joy Luck Club. I am to replace my mother, whose seat at the mah jong table has been empty since she died two months ago. My father thinks she was killed by her own thoughts.

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Amy Tan

To stop dreaming — well, that’s like saying you can never change your fate.

Everyone must dream. We dream to give ourselves hope. To stop dreaming — well, that’s like saying you can never change your fate. Isn’t that true?

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Amy Tan

Whenever I’m with my mother, I feel as though I have to spend the whole time avoiding land mines.

Whenever I’m with my mother, I feel as though I have to spend the whole time avoiding land mines.