Amy Tan

A Writer's Memoir

Where the Past Begins

From New York Times bestselling author Amy Tan, a memoir about finding meaning in life through acts of creativity and imagination In Where the Past Begins, bestselling author of The Joy Luck Club and The Valley of Amazement Amy Tan reveals the ways that our memories and personal experiences can inform our creative work. Drawing on her vivid impressions of her upbringing, Tan investigates the truths and inspirations behind her writing while illuminating how we all explore, confront, and process complex memories, especially half-forgotten ones from childhood. With candor, empathy, and humor, Tan sheds light on her own writing process, sharing her hard-won insights on the nature of creativity and inspiration while exploring the universal urge to examine truth through the workings of imagination—and what that imaginative world tells us about our own lives. Where the Past Begins is both a unique look into the mind of an extraordinary storyteller and an indispensable guide for writers, artists, and other creative thinkers.

Memory and Imagination

Laura Mauler

I kept getting angry as I read the passages describing her mother's behavior during the author's childhood, until it clicked: her mother was mentally ill. Of course. Once the author explicitly named it for what it was, I began to understand. Suddenly this shifted from simply a memoir (albeit one written in a really interesting format) to a memoir about being raised by a mentally ill parent. Well then - onward.

The section containing the email exchange between the author and her editor was fun and interesting. I couldn't identify which book they were talking about, and that was good because it left me free to enjoy the behind-the-scenes look at how a book is born rather than try to reconcile the finished book with the potential variations they discussed. 

Another highlight was the section describing the author's links to classical music, writing, and stories. It actually started out a little dull, but then the author takes the reader on a little adventure: she narrates the story that always forms in her mind's eye when she listens to one of her favorite pieces of classical music. She maps this story against the precise minute and second of the music, and this allows the reader to put her book down, pull up the specific version of the concerto on a streaming service, and then read the story set against the music that conjured it. The effect is fantastic.

And finally, there is the story of the author's grandmother, mother, and self, nestled together like Matryoshka dolls.

Sam Pulliam

3.5

I have owned Amy Tan’s memoir, Where the Past Begins since it came out but have just gotten around to picking it up. It was available through my library via audio so I alternated between listening to the book while doing household chores and reading along while listening to the book. First, I think Tan is a fantastic writer and I love the way she explains pieces of her life are often so beautiful. It made for an interesting experience reading her memoir but I do think there were some times where I’d have liked a more straightforward approach. I do think that as the memoir went on, it became more interesting and her writing style lent itself to the story. The section where she talks about learning to read was so beautiful and insightful. My favorite part was the end where she talked about linguistics and related it to the immigrant experience and, ultimately, her mother. It was heartbreaking, beautiful and insightful. I’ll probably find myself revisiting those last sections of the book again.

Where the Past Begins A Writer's Memoir

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