How far is forever

Author: Tie Ning
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: Young readers, the series of books you see here have been selected and edited from two sessions of the Lu Xun Literature Prize for Fiction. People often feel a sense of reverence when they hear Lu Xun's name; the literary prize named after him is solemn and resonant; and the novels that have won this prize must surely be profound in content and depth. They carry the weight of an adult world that is unfathomable, perhaps one that excludes the entry of young readers. In reality, this is often an underestimation of young readers' comprehension. It may also be because of this underestimation that young people have missed out on these novels. I remember my youth in the early 1970s, an era of cultural poverty. Apart from the hollow textbooks, we had no books to read. Fortunately, my family had a few outdated literary classics left, which brought me secret joy in reading. Those literatures were not written for children, and the content was far removed from the life I could perceive. Moreover, I did not fully understand the profound meanings of the characters and stories. Yet, I was utterly immersed, experiencing an indescribable sense of happiness. Among them, the novel John Christopher by French writer Roman Rolland left an especially unforgettable impression on me. To this day, when someone asks what book had the deepest impact on me during my youth, I would place this four-volume novel at the top. Although I have mostly forgotten the plot, I can still recite the two sentences from the preface: "True light is not the absence of darkness, but the fact that it is never extinguished by darkness; true heroes are not those who never feel low, but those who are never subdued by low emotions." These words shook the delicate and narrow heart of a teenager, making me clearly yearn for a noble and beautiful soul, for the desire to make a difference in the world. Although I didn’t know what I could do for the world at that time, I believe this is the magic of literature. It quietly opens your mind beyond the classroom, enriches your personal life, expands your horizons, deepens your understanding of the vast world, and nurtures your aesthetic tastes. I believe that the healthy growth of a person's soul should be accompanied by truly outstanding works of literature. This series of Selected Novels from the Lu Xun Literature Prize undoubtedly possesses these literary qualities. The novels and stories here are all different, and the writers tell their stories in their own unique ways. If novels are the art of narration, then you will see how different narratives can transform these novels into styles as varied and engaging as the writers themselves. At the same time, a group of characters, some close to you and some far away, will also enter your heart. These characters range from those who grow up in cities to those who thrive in the countryside; from a father in a son's heart to a soldier at a border outpost, a female hero in war, a town head whose thoughts are hard to fathom, a mother in nursing, a woman with hidden schemes in a grand courtyard, a pure and innocent girl, a sensitive and thoughtful teenager under the "August Fog Bullpen," and even a description of a "life without language," reflections on "before and after," the heartfelt warmth of homemade cloth shoes stitched with thousands of needles, and the intoxication of two men "boasting" on a fertile grassland. How does an old house, in the simple prose of a writer, radiate a divine warmth? How does a river get drenched by rain? Does the heart grow old before the body sometimes? What secrets lie within the "Double Fish Constellation"? And how can a basin of clear water and a knife lying in it be written so dramatically? The act of carrying tea leaves to Beijing may not be as poetic as the novel's title suggests, but the events that unfold in the kitchen, whether real or imagined, also evoke thoughts of a hidden yet ever-present "war" between men and women. "Dreams have never reached Xie Bridge," yes, the childhood dreams there are a blend of joy and sorrow, humor and melancholy. It is the discovery of a child about her father, and in this discovery, the child also finds her lifelong difficult wish: to gain genuine human love. Though difficult, it ultimately exists. After we "wash away the dust" with these novels, a new year truly begins, and our hearts, cleansed by such stories, should also be as clear and bright as a starry night without wind in winter. These novels, though diverse in theme and style, share an undeniable commonality: they all focus on reality, care for the human heart, and do not shy away from the dilemmas of life. Regardless of the path they take, they ultimately express a genuine understanding of life, a keen grasp of reality, a sincere hope for goodness, an endless exploration of the vast human heart, and a certain guidance for the healthy development of the human spirit. Additionally, this series includes selected photographs of each writer from different periods of their lives, as well as relevant reviews and interviews, allowing you to get to know the writer from multiple perspectives while reading a novel. When you gaze at their youthful photographs, you might even wonder: when did they first dream of becoming writers? The "Introduction" accompanying the works was written by the female writer He Yuru. Her words are insightful yet accessible, calm and orderly, vivid and delicate, yet always measured. This "Introduction" is a literary evaluation of one writer by another, and a sincere dialogue between the works of two writers. I am willing to believe that all of this is beautiful.