Here is the translation of the given content into English: "Wang Meng's unsatisfactory 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 vivid and three-dimensional manner with the style of a sketch. In the book, Wang Meng also speaks frankly about the shortcomings of some writer friends, such as teasing Lu Tianming for being overly "stiff," calling Bi Shumin's name ordinary like 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 truth more. Even if I am hated by friends for being too blunt, I still love truth. I love truth, so 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 considered to have passed the age of seventy in Chinese tradition. His life, both horizontally and vertically, has been a floating in vast spaces. Some call it legendary, and they are not wrong. His life’s sentiments and reflections on the past are undeniable facts. "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, where Wang Meng records his reflections and deductions based on reading the author’s works. Clearly, this is a book that can be read alongside "Wang Meng: My Life Philosophy." At over seventy, Wang Meng is considered to have passed the age of seventy in Chinese tradition. His life, both horizontally and vertically, has been a floating in vast spaces. Some call it legendary, and they are not wrong. His life’s sentiments and reflections on the past are undeniable facts. "An Unconventional Remembrance" collects over thirty articles by Wang Meng, in which he 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 vivid and three-dimensional manner through sketches of small incidents in their interactions. In addition to remembering his deceased friends like Shao Quanlin, Xia Yan, Feng Mu, and Ding Ling, Wang Meng also speaks frankly about the shortcomings of some writer friends in the book, such as teasing Lu Tianming for being overly "stiff," calling Bi Shumin’s name ordinary like 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 truth more. Even if I am hated by friends for being too blunt, I still love truth. I love truth, so I love and respect my teachers and friends, even if I am hated by friends for being too blunt. 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 truth more. I love truth, so I love and respect my teachers and friends, even if I am hated by friends for being too blunt. 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?"