Wang Meng: A Disorganized Nostalgia

Author: Wang Meng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Wang Meng uses his to describe his deceased or living friends, such as Shao Quanlin, Xiao Yemo, Xia Yan, Bi Shumin, Tie Ning, and Zhang Jie. Through the small incidents that occurred during his interactions with them, he presents the characters in a three-dimensional manner with the style of a sketch. In the book, Wang Meng also frankly points out the shortcomings of some writer friends, such as teasing Lu Tianming for being "extremely stubborn," describing Bi Shumin's name as ordinary as that of any street woman, and noting that Zhang Jie becomes less forgiving with age. Regarding this, Wang Meng explains in the preface: "When writing about people, I carry a bit of a 'blockhead' attitude because I love my teachers and friends, but I love the truth more. Even if I am hated by friends for being too blunt, I still love the truth. Why love the truth? That's why I love and respect my teachers and friends. If I don't dare to tell the truth to my friends, when will I get a chance to speak the truth in my lifetime? And if I never speak the truth, won't I just be suffocating to death?" At over seventy, Wang Meng is already past the age of seventy in the words of ancient Chinese. His life, both horizontally and vertically, has been a floating in a vast space. Some call it legendary, and they are not wrong. His life's experiences and reflections are undeniably noteworthy. "Wang Meng: An Unconventional Remembrance" contains over thirty articles, most of which reflect the characters Wang Meng has encountered through specific events. A few exceptions exist, such as Wang Xiaobo, for whom Wang Meng records his insights and deductions from reading the person's works. Clearly, this is a book that can be read alongside "Wang Meng: My Life Philosophy." "Wang Meng: An Unconventional Remembrance" collects over thirty articles by Wang Meng. In the book, Wang Meng uses his to describe his deceased or living friends, such as Shao Quanlin, Xiao Yemo, Xia Yan, Bi Shumin, Tie Ning, and Zhang Jie, presenting their characters in a three-dimensional manner through the small incidents that occurred during his interactions with them. In addition to remembering his deceased friends like Shao Quanlin, Xia Yan, Feng Mu, and Ding Ling, Wang Meng also frankly points out the shortcomings of some writer friends in the book, such as teasing Lu Tianming for being "extremely stubborn," describing Bi Shumin's name as ordinary as that of any street woman, and noting that Zhang Jie becomes less forgiving with age. Regarding this, Wang Meng explains in the preface: "When writing about people, I carry a bit of a 'blockhead' attitude because I love my teachers and friends, but I love the truth more. Even if I am hated by friends for being too blunt, I still love the truth. Why love the truth? That's why I love and respect my teachers and friends. If I don't dare to tell the truth to my friends, when will I get a chance to speak the truth in my lifetime? And if I never speak the truth, won't I just be suffocating to death?" From "Wang Meng: An Unconventional Remembrance," one can read the author's emotions. Remembrance, how can it be unconventional? Wang Meng explains clearly in the preface "Man and Time": "When writing about people, I carry a bit of a 'blockhead' attitude because I love my teachers and friends, but I love the truth more. I love the truth, so that's why I love and respect my teachers and friends. Even if I am hated by friends for being too blunt, I still love the truth. If I don't dare to tell the truth to my friends, when will I get a chance to speak the truth in my lifetime? And if I never speak the truth, won't I just be suffocating to death?"