The young man first tastes the bitterness of life

Author: Tao Zheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: This book presents stories from the perspective of a teenager, devoid of pretense or artifice, with rarely any adjectives—only simplicity and authenticity. Its greatest value lies in its use of plain language, starting from the subtle, using trivial details to evoke reflection on that era and the pursuit of the good in human nature. All the essays in "A Teenager's First Taste of Sorrow" are reflective. Last year, during the SARS outbreak, everyone stayed indoors. Bored, I continued the memory search triggered by those two essays. Suddenly, an idea flashed, and I wrote it down immediately, regardless of chronological order. Of course, there were limitations: all the memories were from childhood—my childhood and that of the "New China," an age of dreams. Revisiting them is quite interesting, like waking up in the morning, closing your eyes again, and reliving the bizarre dreams of the night. Naturally, since you're awake, no matter how much you reminisce, it won't be as exhilarating or heart-wrenching as when you were dreaming. My mindset is very calm—the term "old and sharp" may not only refer to the simplicity of the writing style but also to my calm state of mind. I immersed myself in communicating with my younger self, yet remained detached. By the time SARS faded away, I had accumulated over a dozen pieces, finally enough to compile a book.