Lin Chaoyang's last novel "The Truman Show" was published in August last year. At that time, the publicity was very strong, and many domestic local newspapers, magazines and even TV stations reported on it.

After the novel was published, like Lin Chaoyang's previous works, it was immediately enthusiastically received by readers. However, after a period of time, the critics' voices became less optimistic.

Some critics believe that the society described by Lin Chaoyang in "The Truman Show" has been divorced from reality.

These people believe that once literature departs from the path of realism, it will be like a soul separated from the body, with nothing to rely on.

Readers can certainly get temporary novelty and excitement in such a world, but it is difficult to find a deep connection with real life.

This argument became popular in the months after the release of "The Truman Show" and affected a considerable number of readers' perception of the novel. The reputation was mixed, which directly led to the "The Truman Show"'s popularity after its release period.

There has been a sharp decline in the past few months.

By February last year, half a year after the release of "The Truman Show", the novel's single-month sales had fallen below 100,000 copies. Such a situation was very rare in Lin Chaoyang's previous works.

In the eyes of many critics and readers who oppose and criticize "The Truman Show", the decline in sales of the novel is the best confirmation of their views. Seeing such results, these people are all happy and excited.

Although in terms of public opinion, they have no way to suppress those voices that support Lin Chaoyang and "The Truman Show", the reality has proven that their views are right. This has given them a feeling of "the whole world is drunk and I am alone"

"Wake up" pride.

At the same time, I felt deep contempt for those loyal supporters of Lin Chaoyang, thinking that they were just a group of followers who blindly worshiped for fame. However, just when these people were complacent, things turned around.

.

In late May last year, some domestic media suddenly reported that the film adaptation of "The Truman Show" had won three awards at the just-concluded French Paris International Film Festival. This news immediately aroused considerable repercussions in the domestic cultural circles.

These days, "Popular Cinema" sells millions of copies in one issue, and has hundreds of millions of movie lovers in the country.

You have never participated in the Cannes Film Festival, but you are somewhat familiar with it. It is one of the three major film festivals in Europe. The film adaptation of "The Truman Show" at the famous and internationally influential film festival actually won three consecutive awards at the festival.

An award?

Many people's first reaction when they heard the news was that they didn't believe it, thinking that the media had misrepresented the news. After all, Chinese-language films had never won an award at any heavyweight European and American film festival before.

Why can the film adaptation of "The Truman Show" win awards?

But soon, as more and more media reported the news, more information about the film’s awards was revealed.

"The Truman Show" did win three awards at Cannes, including Best Actor, Best Screenplay and the Jury Prize. It set the strongest record for a Chinese-language film to compete in European film festivals, and the film was screened at Cannes.

It also received the highest score from the venue’s evaluation.

Because the screening was so popular, the film festival organizing committee even had to arrange for two additional screenings of the film to satisfy the enthusiastic fans. Major European and American film magazines reported and commented on it, and all gave it very high praise.

A piece of foreign news was carried back to China by the domestic media. The opponents of "The Truman Show" fell into silence, while the supporters ushered in a carnival! The movies adapted from "The Truman Show" have won heavyweight awards abroad.

Why do you say the original novel is not good?

If you think the novel is not good, reflect on it. Is it because your reading taste is too outdated and can’t keep up with the times? The movie won awards, the original novel’s reputation reversed, and readers had a carnival.

The most direct reaction was that the sales of "The Truman Show" experienced a sharp increase. In May, just a few days after the news came back to China, the sales stopped falling and stabilized, with 130,000 copies sold.

In the following June, the sales volume surged to 510,000 copies. There was a slight decline in the following months, but the sales volume was only slightly worse than the first three months after it was launched.

When "The Truman Show" was released in China in October, a considerable number of viewers were converted into readers, and the sales of the original novel once again exceeded the 500,000-copy mark that month.

At that time, Huacheng Publishing House originally predicted that this novel might exceed the 5 million sales mark from May to June of 1987. But now it seems that it will only achieve this goal by March.

Such an astonishing reversal once again proves Lin Chaoyang's powerful and unparalleled appeal among domestic literature lovers.

Unlike "The Truman Show", which had a reversal in word-of-mouth that drove sales of novels, "Parasite" won high praise from readers and critics from the beginning. Although the places where the stories of both novels take place have been

It is set in the capitalist society of Hong Kong, but unlike the imaginary and absurd world view of "The Truman Show", the creative style of "Parasite" is solid realism.

Domestic critics were the first to applaud Lin Chaoyang's choice to return to the path of realism.

In this era when various literary trends are popular, the realist path that the domestic literary front has adhered to for decades has been regarded as outdated by many young creators. Outdated antiques, the decline of realist literature is an indisputable fact in the Chinese literary world.

.

In November last year, "Flower City" published the first part of Shaanxi writer Lu Yao's novel "The Ordinary World" in one issue. It is said that this novel will be a trilogy, with a total word count of more than one million words.

The novel is set in China from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, and centers on the two brothers Sun Shaoan and Sun Shaoping.

It depicts the images of ordinary people from all walks of life at that time, and profoundly shows the difficult and tortuous roads that ordinary people from humble backgrounds have traveled in the historical process of the great era. Many literature lovers only rely on the introduction of the article even if they do not read the novel.

You can also smell the strong flavor of realism in it.

However, such a realistic work, which consumed Lu Yao countless energy and painstaking efforts, did not receive much praise from the literary circle after its publication.

After reading this novel, many people generally think that the novel's creative techniques are too outdated, there are too many redundant details, and the plot has no new ideas. It is a complete failure.

The first part of the novel was first published in "Flower City" in November, and then published by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Publishing Company in December. Both word-of-mouth and sales were unsatisfactory, and this was regarded by many as another evidence of the decline of realist literature.

The first part of "The Ordinary World" was published only one month apart from "Parasite", but the reception and evaluation it received were completely different. It suddenly reversed the previous pessimistic view in the literary circles about the future development of realist literature.

and opinions.

This strong contrast further highlights the specialness and excellence of "Parasite".

Moreover, "Parasite" has another interesting aspect. This novel tells a story that takes place in a capitalist society.

The novel shows the tragic fate of Lao Jin’s family, the sharp contradictions and oppositions between various classes in capitalist society, and the struggle and ugliness of human nature. The author’s criticism of capitalism is ruthless and unsentimental in his writing.

The cover-up is in line with the trend of domestic literary criticism.

The competition for the president of Lin Chaoyang (China) Literary Research Association was of course a joke. Everyone stayed at Lin Chaoyang's house until dinner before leaving reluctantly. Two days later, Li Shifei called Lin Chaoyang and said that "

The situation of the work seminar held by "Parasite" has changed a bit, and I want to talk to him

Discuss and discuss. As early as last year when the manuscript of "Parasite" was handed over to Huacheng Publishing House, Li Shifei proposed to hold a work seminar for this novel in Beijing on the occasion of publication. As a result, "Parasite" was published in early January. Due to time

As the New Year approaches, Huacheng has moved the time to the end of the New Year.

"What's changed?"

Li Shifei's tone was a little embarrassed, "Chaoyang, would you mind adding "The Ordinary World" to the discussion?" "The Ordinary World"?

"Then the seminar topic..."

Li Shifei said: "Let's upgrade the theme and change it to 'realistic literature'. Let's do that..." Li Shifei explained the reason.

This time for holding a seminar for "Parasite", Huacheng wanted to set the standards a little higher, so they specially found two magazines, "Literary News" and "Novel Review", hoping to jointly organize it.

The reason why I temporarily joined "The Ordinary World" is because the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Publishing Company heard about the seminar they were going to hold and wanted to come and participate. The China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Publishing Company is the publishing unit of "The Ordinary World".

This novel happened to be published in "Flower City" magazine.

Therefore, China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Publishing Company proposed the idea of ​​co-organizing a seminar.

Originally, Huacheng did not plan to hold a work seminar for "The Ordinary World" so early. After all, only one-third of the novel was written. However, the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Publishing Company came over and made this request, and Huacheng was not easy to refuse.

.

"The Ordinary World" was first published in "Flower City" magazine. The first part was published less than three months ago, and the second and third parts will be published in the future.

The reputation of the first novel was not ideal, which also had an impact on "Flower City". If we can use the work seminar to build momentum for "The Ordinary World" and reverse the reputation, it would not be a bad thing.

But in this way, it would be a bit unfair to Lin Chaoyang.

The "Parasite" work symposium has been organized since a year ago, and the external contacts announced that it was Lin Chaoyang's work symposium. Only in this way did it receive enthusiastic responses from "Literary News", "Novel Review" and many critics and writers.

There is no such word as "taking advantage of the popularity" now, but that's essentially what it is.

That's why Li Shifei called specifically to discuss it with Lin Chaoyang and kept his attitude low. "It doesn't matter. Let's do it together. It will be more lively if we do it together."

Based on Li Shifei's understanding of Lin Chaoyang, he knew that Lin Chaoyang would most likely agree to this matter, but Lin Chaoyang's magnanimity and calmness still exceeded his expectations. He has been an editor for more than thirty years and knows writers very well.

It depends on their character. Even if the average writer agrees with this kind of thing, he will inevitably express his dissatisfaction.

From Lin Chaoyang's tone, he did not hear any anger or dissatisfaction, but instead felt joy. Such a pattern is really admirable.

The two chatted for a while about the details of the work seminar. Li Shifei said on the phone: "Okay, it's settled. We'll see you in Yanjing next Wednesday!"

"good."

A week later, Lin Chaoyang was playing with Dongdong in the courtyard when Lu Yao suddenly came to the door with his luggage. As soon as they met and exchanged greetings, Lu Yao firmly held Lin Chaoyang's hand.

"Chaoyang, thank you!"

Lu Yao's "thank you" was full of sincerity.

"The Ordinary World" is a book that he put all his efforts into. After the publication of the first volume, it did not achieve the reputation he desired, either among critics or among readers. This result was a big blow to Lu Yao.

"Why are you saying these things?" Lin Chao changed the subject and asked Lu Yao: "Have you arranged a place to live?"

""Flower City" helped arrange the guest house of the Humanities Club. I said no, just stay here." Lu Yao said with a smile. "Welcome, welcome! Come on, I will take you to the west courtyard to make arrangements first."

As they talked, the two went to the west courtyard and arranged a room for Lu Yao. Lu Yao put down his luggage and stood in the courtyard chatting with Lin Chaoyang.

The warm winter sun shines in the spacious courtyard, warm and peaceful, and the unique pigeon whistle of Yanjing City comes from the distant sky, which is clear and sweet. Lu Yao squinted his eyes with a pleasant expression, "Your place is better, it's really magical

A normal day!"

"It's because you are in a good mood, and people feel refreshed when happy events happen." Lin Chaoyang said with a smile. Lu Yao couldn't help but smile on his face, and this was indeed the reason.

Since last year, he has suffered a series of blows due to the twists and turns in the publication of the novel. The poor reputation after the publication of the novel gave him a heavy blow again.

Until recently, "The Ordinary World" was going to hold a workshop in Yanjing, and it was co-organized by four companies. It finally brought a ray of sunshine into Lu Yao's mood that had been gloomy for more than half a year.

It is a dream for many writers to hold a seminar or symposium on their works in Yanjing.

Firstly, it is because Yanjing is the political, economic, and cultural center of China, and it also has the most intensive information resources and distribution channels in China. Holding a work seminar in Beijing can disseminate information most quickly and effectively.

Secondly, Yanjing is also the highland of Chinese culture. After all, it is the headquarters of many national-level cultural institutions. There are many famous people and authorities everywhere. It can be said that it firmly controls the right to speak in the Chinese cultural world.

Many foreign writers say that the docks in Yanjing are very large and the water is very deep. If a literary work wants to be recognized nationwide, it must first be recognized by the cultural circles in Yanjing. Not only is Lu Yao well aware of this, but also
To be continued...