That summer, that autumn

Author: Bi Feiyu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: This book is Bi Feiyu's first long, and Bi Feiyu said, "When I wrote this book, there was a stubborn image in my mind—that of Chinese cities in the early 1990s. This image, of course, doesn’t exist. I felt as if I were standing on a bridge, with the vast expanse of the city in front of me, a winter scene with sunlight spreading across the roofs. It was a dreamlike 'total view.' The problem is, I never believed in the 'total view,' just as I don’t believe in 'the final statistics.' I only believe in the local, because we can only survive in the local. In other words, only the local can effectively constitute existence. When I stepped into the 'local' of a city in the early 1990s, what a scene of restlessness, chaos, dripping sweat, and yet bustling with people!" The protagonist of this book is a college student studying vocal music, while his mother is a returned urban youth worker. Observant readers will notice that the source of Bi Feiyu's two award-winning novels, The Green Dress and Corn, lies in this book, quietly, without any hint of stirring. How wonderful and eagerly anticipated this expectation is!
About this book, Bi Feiyu says, "When I wrote this book, there was a stubborn image in my mind—that of Chinese cities in the early 1990s. This image, of course, doesn’t exist. I felt as if I were standing on a bridge, with the vast expanse of the city in front of me, a winter scene with sunlight spreading across the roofs. It was a dreamlike 'total view.' The problem is, I never believed in the 'total view,' just as I don’t believe in 'the final statistics.' I only believe in the local, because we can only survive in the local. In other words, only the local can effectively constitute existence. When I stepped into the 'local' of a city in the early 1990s, what a scene of restlessness, chaos, dripping sweat, and yet bustling with people! This book’s protagonist is a college student studying vocal music, while his mother is a returned urban youth worker. When I recall them, I unexpectedly found that the source of The Green Dress and Corn lies in this book, quietly, without any hint of stirring. How wonderful and eagerly anticipated this expectation is. So be patient. You cannot be anxious for a gift—you can only wait until the night of December 24th, when Santa Claus will slide down your chimney through a blanket of snow and place his gift in your stocking. A day earlier won’t do. This Santa Claus is no one else but yourself, your inner self. Writing is nourishing—it nourishes the act of writing."