Sample Years: The Story of Beida

Author: Sun Rui
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-01-01
Features: The online novel "Grassland of Youth" ranked in the top 8 on Sina for 8 consecutive weeks and was licensed by 33 countries at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October. However, it was not officially published until the Beijing Book Fair in 2004, with an initial print run of 150,000 copies. It records the current state of a specific place—campus—with a unique perspective, where the subjective and objective factors of human and society subtly influence everything, giving rise to a series of amusing yet thought-provoking stories. The delicate descriptions, playful language, humor and lightness amidst helplessness, and the seemingly indifferent depth make readers feel a touch of sorrow after laughing heartily, reflecting the inner world of college students at the turn of the century. This is a long romantic novel depicting college life, with Qiu Fei and Zhou Zhou's love story as its main thread. It portrays vivid characters like Qiu Fei and Yang Yang, who are considered "bad" students in school—indifferent to studies, always trying to avoid exams, peeking into female dorms, dating, playing in bands, drinking, fighting, and more, presenting readers with a lively and lifelike picture of campus life. Yet, they are actually idealistic and passionate young people who yearn for a way out for their souls, love literature and music, and are filled with kindness and hope for the future. However, they clash with the rigid and programmed environment of the university, leading to their cynicism and fighting back with a weak "badness." It wasn't until later that they suddenly awaken to the ruins of their disheveled and fragmented youth, realizing the value of love and life when this moment could have become a cherished memory. Author Sun Rui, a recent college graduate, writes with a vivid and humorous style deeply rooted in Beijing literature. His writing often leaves readers both heartbroken and amused. Book planner Shen Haobo believes that compared to young authors like Guo Jingming and He Yuanwai, Sun Rui is more prepared literary-wise. As a Beijing native, he fully inherits the witty and carefree style of Beijing writers. His novels have Wang Shuo-like humor but lack Wang Shuo's slickness; they possess Wang Xiaobo-like wisdom without Wang Xiaobo's showiness; and they have Shi Kang-like boldness but not Shi Kang's one-sided. This book was ranked as one of the "Top Ten Youth Novels in China" by a prestigious media outlet.