Tan 118
“She assured me she had nothing whatsoever against minorities; she and her husband, who owned a chain of office-supply stores, personally knew many fine people who were Oriental, Spanish, and even black."
Tan 119
"After a while, there were no more discussions. Ted simply decided"
Tan 120
"‘Nothing is important to you, then,’ he said in a tone of disgust."
Tan 121
"So what can you do to stop yourself from tilting and falling all over again?"
Tan 121
"I discovered that maybe it was fate all along, that faith was just an illusion that somehow you’re in control."
Tan 123-124
"The worry surrounded me, like the wall of the cove, and it made me feel everything had been considered and was now safe."
Tan 126
"she stood quietly, calm and regal as a mermaid queen who had just arrived out of the sea."
Tan 130
"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. And it made me angry - so blindingly angry - that everything had failed us."
Tan 131
"You have to pay attention to what you lost. You have to undo the expectation."
Tan 131
"that’s where she wrote ‘Bing Hsu’ lightly, in erasable pencil.”