To make my waking life American-normal, I turn on the lights before anything untoward makes an appearance. I push the deformed into my dreams, which … - Maxine Hong Kingston

Before we can leave our parents, they stuff our heads like the suitcases which they jam-pack with homemade underwear. (p87)

"You must not tell anyone," my mother said, "what I am about to tell you." (First line, "No Name Woman")

I've heard people say, "Why don't you write about rich, successful Chinese American people? Why don't you write real role models?" I think I do write about the great emotional, psychological struggles. I'm not that interested in writing Horatio Alger stories. I think of myself as somebody who's been given a gift of an amazing literary voice, and so I want to be the voice of the voiceless. I'm not that interested in being the voice of a wealthy, corporate Chinese American executive. (1990)

The lights of the city on hills make a vertical shimmer from sky straight into the water, like a backdrop, like a dream. (p37)