Family photo

Author: Liu Jiandong
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2003-01-01
Features: A Family Portrait vividly exposes the creative dilemma faced by novelists in the 1960s regarding "how to handle the relationship between the fictional world and society." However, overall, the work demonstrates Liu Jiandong's sufficient creative wisdom and ability. It is particularly noteworthy that his rational judgment and grasp are prominent. Chen Chao, vice chairman of the Shandong Provincial Writers' Association and a special researcher at the Literary Theory Research Institute, believes that Liu Jiandong's writing reflects the common characteristics of the "new generation" in the literary scene today—caught in the collision between tradition and modernity, avant-garde and realism. However, his work has moved beyond the awkwardness of youthful literary creation, achieving the breadth and maturity of mid-life writing. Wu Yiqin, vice chairman of the Shandong Provincial Writers' Association and a literary critic, states that as a "new generation" writer, Liu Jiandong differs from some writers who pursue rationality and metaphysics, as well as from those like Wei Hui and Mian Mian who emphasize writing posture. Instead, he embodies the pursuit of pure art. "What is a family?" or "What is not a family?" becomes a question in this novel. It is a patient novel, both fierce and refined, unrestrained yet restrained, worldly yet innocent. It opens a poetic space for wonder and dreams within the ordinary and impoverished reality, probing the hidden center of contemporary life—our disintegration of the soul, loneliness, our struggles and limits. — Li Jingze
The novel depicts a love tragedy spanning two generations within a family. Their love stories form a web—about morality and desire, rebellion and family affection—none of the family members can escape its. The abnormal marriage of the older generation brings misfortune to their own lives and inflicts deep harm on the sexual psychology of the younger generation, making it difficult for them to achieve normal marriage and love.