Peak experience

Author: Wang Ruo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: Wang Ruo is a person who relieves stress and anxiety by writing and taking photos, much like many who play Mahjong to achieve the same effect. Because of its amateur and "private" nature, the images and texts left behind are untidy and hazy, not sunny and dazzling, not swiftly capturing moments—reading it is like staring into the eyes of a cat. Lin Shaohua said, "The 'Kafka-esque' flavor in her words has a certain resonance with Kafka from that country. This is not due to deliberately imitating external things, but mostly the result of her natural talent, intellect, feelings, and thoughts surging inward."—If Kafka were a cat, this world would naturally have other cats too. In terms of language and style, some of her writing may not be fully polished and still needs further refinement, but it is quite concise, restrained, and introspective, as well as elegant and witty. She rarely indulges in the excess, awkwardness, and pretension often seen in some "new new writers" of her age. As for the content, she seems less concerned with a seamless narrative flow and more focused on portraying the emotional sensibilities, moods, and subtle psychological nuances of her characters. Yes, her characters are all fashionable, living in urban fashion, but fashion often brings them not enjoyment and joy, but embarrassment and struggle. Clearly, the author herself is a city dweller, and so are her protagonists, the lonely masses in the city. Regarding the identities and circumstances of these people, who are isolated yet seemingly happy in the glittering city, the author holds both expectations, affirmation, and sympathy, while constantly uncovering their underlying fragility, desolation, and sorrow. They constantly pursue "peak experiences" but are unaware of what they truly are. In the pursuit, they lose memory, lose words, and even forget what they have lost, questioning themselves, "What can I rely on to mark my existence?"（《Speechless》）This absurdity creates immense anxiety, loneliness, and a sense of loss. "Many things in my mind are like over a hundred Indian subcontinent elephants running together, yet they seem empty"（《The Moon Like an Economic Observer》）。Comparisons are inherently inappropriate. Perhaps because I have been immersed in the world of Murakami for too long, my thoughts inevitably revolve around him, especially when I encounter familiar words, which naturally excites me. But whatever the case, this short story collection has given me a faint glimpse of hope.