Amy Tan’s speech on writing, identity and life for Governor’s Lecture

Amy Tan interacts with a fan during her book signing at the Lied Center for Performing Arts on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Photo by Izzy Lewis

On Sept. 24, literature and humanities enthusiasts gathered at the Lied Center for the 29th Annual Governor’s Lecture in the Humanities with world-renowned author Amy Tan. The event was presented by Nebraska Humanities and the E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues, kicking off the 37th year of lecture series for the latter. 

Before the event, there was a benefit reception and dinner which raised over $176,580 for statewide humanities programming. Additionally, the Sower Award in the Humanities was presented to Anne M. Hubbard for her philanthropic and humanities-related support in Nebraska. 

“(These lectures provide) opportunities for us to hear from critical thinkers, policymakers and leaders who are shaping the global society,” Beth Whited, chair of Nebraska Humanities Council, said. 

Gov. Jim Pillen started by introducing Tan and welcoming her to Nebraska. Kwakiutl Dreher, an associate professor of English at University of Nebraska–Lincoln, was the moderator for the conversation, which eventually was opened to audience questions. 

Tan talked about many aspects of her life: her writing process, the inspiration her mother gave her for “The Joy Luck Club” and her identity both as American and Chinese. She also touched on her struggles with Lyme disease and the recovery process. 

“I had a mother who was uncensored and she made me the same way,” Tan said. “People say to you, ‘You’re so brave for saying that,’ and I think, ‘Well, what did I say?’” 

Authenticity is one of Tan’s most recognizable traits in her writing. Even as her work has been adapted into film and she’s created documentaries, Tan emphasizes the truthfulness that can be found in her stories. 

“I was (telling) some of the fiction writers, poets and the essayists today that one thing you have to do is have compassion (and) sympathy for your characters,” Tan said. “It has to imbue everything, you can never write for revenge.” 

Some of Tan’s inspiration has come to her after receiving criticism throughout her life. She spoke about what it takes to overcome setbacks in her lifetime. 

“I had been told by an art teacher that I ‘lacked imagination, which is necessary to a deeper creative level’,” Tan said. “Basically he said that I was not imaginative; that stuck with me for a while. And here I was going to retire, I can do whatever I want and I did that through nature journaling.”

Tan’s newest book, “The Backyard Bird Chronicles” differs from her usual fiction novels. The book is a journal of Tan’s observations of birds in her backyard. The entire book is also illustrated by Tan herself. 

Some of Tan’s books were available for purchase at the event. Tan ended the night by signing books, both old and new, for a long line of fans. This event gave many an opportunity to meet Tan for themselves. 

The lecture itself was free and open to the public to attend and was also live streamed. It will be available to watch online later on the E.N. Thompson Forum’s Lecture Archive. 

Published for the Daily Nebraskan, read here.