"The forbidden things were a great influence on my life. I was forbidden from reading A Catcher in the Rye"

Amy Tan's quote, "The forbidden things were an excellent impact on my life. I was prohibited from reading A Catcher in the Rye", exposes an extensive commentary on the impact of prohibition and interest on individual advancement. The idea of "forbidden things" suggests elements that were off-limits, instilling in Tan a sense of curiosity and intrigue. These restrictions can typically make the restricted subjects more enticing, drawing more attention to them than may have held true if they had been readily available.

The mention of being "prohibited from reading A Catcher in the Rye" specifically highlights a well-known case of censorship. J.D. Salinger's novel has traditionally been a frequent target of censorship due to its styles of disobedience, identity, and reviews of social standards. By being rejected access to this book, Amy Tan likely experienced a heightened desire to explore its material, which in turn cultivated her crucial thinking and formed her literary perceptiveness.

This quote also underscores the power of literature as a tool for personal exploration and intellectual flexibility. Tan's acknowledgment of how forbidden books influenced her life suggests literature's capacity to challenge, provoke, and motivate, even-- or possibly specifically-- when stayed out of reach. The act of seeking out banned books ends up being an act of defiance, a mission for understanding and fact beyond imposed limits.

Moreover, Tan's experience reflects a universal tension in between authority and autonomy. Being forbidden from particular things, whether literature or ideas, typically stimulates people to question and ultimately redefine their boundaries. For Tan, being limited from checking out "A Catcher in the Rye" might have catalyzed her journey as a writer who often explores styles of identity, cultural conflict, and strength.

In summary, Amy Tan's quote speaks to the indisputable attraction of the prohibited, the catalytic role of rejected understanding in forming one's intellectual and innovative life, and the long-lasting power of literature to question and change.