介绍:
There are always some literary works that could be regarded as "the voice of a generation". Han Shaogong&`&s "The Book of Day and Night" gives you a peek at the fates and choices of Chinese born in the 1950s; while Lu Yao&`&s novel "Ordinary World" captures the spirit of the post-60s generation.
But what about those who were born in the 1980s?
For today&`&s Bookshelf, Liu Xiangwei will introduce you to a book, The Last Night We Were Together, or in Chinese "Wo Men Ye Li Zai Mei Shu Guan Tan Lian Ai", which may offer you a glimpse into the joy and frustration of China&`&s post-80s generation.
Reporter:
Since the day they were born, China&`&s post-80s generation, or commonly referred to "Ba Ling Hou", have been trapped under the spotlight. As the first generation born after the implementation of the one-child and opening-up policy, they have been the attention grabbers of their parents and direct beneficiaries of China&`&s economic boost.
Therefore, terms such as "narcissistic", "fickle" and "spoiled" are frequently used to label them. Compared with their forefathers, they are no doubt the lucky ones. But in the eyes of Wen Zhen, a post-80s writer, those tags may not be accurate and this generation probably has suffered more than their elders.
"We encounter so many inflexion points of the history, such as economic reform, single-child policy, the introduction of various school examinations and the expansion of college enrollment since 1999. Due to some institutional changes, it&`&s difficult for us to find a job or affordable housing. The complexities of our lives are simplified or filtered out against the ever-changing times. In my opinion, young people should have enough time to pursue dreams, but now we have little choice but to be pushed forward by the sheer force of this demanding society. "
Her latest book, "The Last Night We Were Together", or in Chinese, "Wo Men Ye Li Zai Mei Shu Guan Tan Lian Ai", is a collection of nine short stories. Instead of depicting the stereotypical image of post-80s generation, Wen Zhen explores the grievance, depression and struggle of today&`&s young urbanites. There is an itinerant couple who fail to afford the rent dreaming of moving to a foreign planet, a lonesome telephone operator using a recorder to confide inner thoughts, and an assistant lawyer trying to commit suicide due to his unhappy marriage and career setback.
Flipping through the pages, acute readers may recognize the similarities among these characters: they don&`&t stand out in the crowds; they have stable jobs but detest the daily grinds; being in their late 20s or early 30s, they believe in love, but lack the faith in marriage.
As those characters desperately yearn for change, freedom and redemption, the author doesn&`&t romanticize their endeavors, but rather, bestows a realistic touch. In the book, elopers have to come back to pay the house loan, while a runaway bride-to-be still returns home to face the reality.
"When we were kids, we were called as &`&the rising run at 8 o&`&clock&`&; but when you enter into adulthood, the world is not that dreamlike and promising. You realize that you are merely a lag screw in this post-industrial era and a nobody drowning in the currents of rapid development. It&`&s hard to change one&`&s fate. So you will focus on those realistic aspects of your own life."
Although many chapters meticulously depict how the pressure in daily routines could suffocate and torment people, Wen Zhen still implants hope into her works.
"In the beginning, I wanted to fully display the sense of despair. But gradually, I became more mature. I have been thinking about what an individual could do in this great age and how to become a better self. I am not talking about changing yourself to be adapted into the society, but rather, you need to develop your own inner strength. Therefore, you could ignore those changes of the outside world and never drift through life."
Written in a sensitive and compassionate manner, "The Last Night We Were Together" receives much acclaim for its combination of Eileen Chang&`&s sharpness and Earnest Hemingway&`&s sagacity on individual persistence. Many comment that the work strikes a chord, since it authentically records the frustration and loss of the post-80s generation.
However, facing the overwhelming applause, the award-winning writer appears to be critical about her writing.
"When I look back at this collection right now, I think some elements have been over-simplified and some stories are too bleak. Next time, I probably won&`&t act as the voice of the contemporary, but rather, focus on the complexity of individuals, since it&`&s not easy to portray the common characters of a whole generation."
大家还在听
