Crocodile's Kiss, the Cooking Smoke

Author: Yan Mingguo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: This is a typical male novel, with an angle of life, character development, and emotional expression all from a male perspective, male standpoint, and male feelings. It features words of loyalty, powerful plots, and never-faltering characters. Especially the male characters, they have substantial flesh and bone, with intense and passionate emotions. The author is clearly aware of the complexity of the novel's plot, so the main characters are not one-dimensional, maintaining the ambiguity and multiplicity of life while upholding the truth of creation. The male strength in the book is also reflected in the dialogue, as the author often uses dialogue to drive the plot, requiring little exposition and action that is direct and straightforward. There are too many unstable and intense male emotions in the book, jumping and spreading strong masculine energy, radiating heat. In this literary world where softness and sentimentality are fashionable, a tough guy stands tall with self-respect, making male autonomy and confidence stand firm. However, the essence of this novel is spiritual. While revealing the decline of the soul or consciousness, it also strives to find spiritual resources in modern life, which is a spirit that is not easily absorbed by the environment in the struggle for wealth and power. The novel is powerful and sharp, displaying vigorous life force, especially needing spiritual sunshine. Life is full of things to ponder, and without spirit, life loses its sun. The novel raises the question of the soul in this way, with profound implications and far-reaching meaning. The only weakness in this male novel is love, as love makes the tough guy vulnerable. Because love itself is a weakness in human nature. And the characters in the novel cannot but face their own weaknesses, revealing differences in their nature when bearing this weakness—there is cunning cruelty, sticky greed, fervent hope, and also clear-eyed death. Love changes with emotions, and emotions change with love, allowing the symbolic meaning of the novel to spread vividly throughout the text. Finally, the harsh reality completes the shaping of the characters' fate and personality, corresponding to the symbolic nature of the novel's opening.