Normal person

Author: Shen Shanzeng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: When it comes to Shanghai literature, readers' reactions are often the romance of the early Republic era, the New Sensibility movement of Mu Shiying in the 1930s, or a series of contemporary masterpieces, such as The Long Love Song. These works often feature legends set in the dazzling Shanghai of the 1930s and 1940s, reflecting the extravagance and luxury of the "Ten-Mile," with styles that are ornate and unconventional, rather than simple. Of course, works of simplicity are not entirely absent—many Shanghai writers changed their styles during the social transformation of the 1950s and 1960s, shifting their themes from urban settings to rural life, becoming rustic local literature. From the initial portrayal of the "Land Reform" to the emergence of "Trauma Literature," Shanghai literature, constrained by political influence and the personal inclinations of writers, lost its original charm. Fortunately, the author of this book, decades after the fragmentation of the Shanghai literary tradition, presents us with a new of old Shanghai through his unique perception and writing ability. It is called "new" because the Shanghai atmosphere it depicts is neither in the horse racing tracks nor in the dance halls; not among the wealthy young men or the elegant "lao ke le" in qipaos—rather, it lies in the ordinary people living within the stone-framed houses. The era it portrays is also unrelated to the "Paris of the East" famous for its prosperity in the 1930s and 1940s—this book's story begins in the mid-1950s and ends in the late 1970s. It is called "old" because the novel is filled with a strong sense of Shanghai charm, beyond the glitz and glamour of the elites—there is a lingering life among the common folk. The author's pen is filled with numerous eccentric characters, each taking their turn on stage. The political movements of the 1950s and 1960s affected their destinies, yet they failed to change the inherent lifestyle of this Shanghai group—the Shanghai people will carry a bottle of Sichuan-flavored bean paste even to the farthest corners. Titled The Normal People, the author records the thoughts and lives of the people of old Shanghai through history's ups and downs in an unconventional style. It can be said that "everyone sees it, yet no one writes about it." Taking the small to represent the large, it differs greatly from other literary works of the same era. What is also commendable is the author's unique writing style—combining humor, irony, self-deprecation, and playfulness, making it endlessly engaging. His self-reflective narrative also reveals his distinctive demeanor—if readers can resonate, then you and I are kindred spirits; if not, my existence's value is not diminished in the slightest—I do not curry favor with others, for I am indeed confident. This book is the literary masterpiece of Shen Shanzeng, a council member of the Shanghai Writers' Association and the of the Novel Committee. It pioneers the use of the "excitement transfer method" structure and "non-identifying third-person narration" in the narrative of a long novel. It has also made significant contributions to the elevation of Shanghai dialect in literature. In his vivid, humorous, and ironic narration, we can also see the author's artistic personality—strong in philosophical reflection and dedicated to ultimate concerns.