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Quote by Wang Anyi

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The Song of Everlasting Sorrow: A Novel of Shanghai

This novel delves into the emotional and social fabric of Shanghai, weaving together stories of sorrow and resilience amidst the backdrop of the city's rich history and cultural tapestry. more

Author

Wang Anyi
Wang Anyi

Wang Anyi, born on March 6, 1954, is a renowned contemporary Chinese writer. Her works are known for their delicate emotional portrayal and profound social insight, with notable titles including 'The Song of Everlasting Sorrow' and 'Fuping'. more

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“The first time he saw her she was wearing a blue khaki uniform and a pair of shabby pigskin shoes - like those worn by high school students - under a pair of baggy pants. He would have sworn that she had come from the police department to check their residence permits. He was even more surprised when she opened her mouth - half the words that tumbled out were political phrases lifted straight from the newspaper. He had heard Wang Qiyao mention Jiang Lili and knew about her family background, but the woman before him did not conform to the description at all: he couldn't figure out which side of her was real and which was merely a show.”

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“Shalom Civilization (The Sonnet) Without accountability there's no civilization, For it is the line between human and animal. Without integrity there's no civilization, For it is the line between human and vegetable. Without sanctity there's no civilization, For it is the line between sanity and savagery. Without amity there's no civilization, For it is the line between humanity and machinery. Without conscience there's no civilization, For it is the line between order and upheaval. Without character there's no civilization, For it is the line between life and survival. Civilization is a small word with a universe inside. To unfold it requires a species without divide.”

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“What we were in the past is not important. What we are now is important. What we intend to make of ourselves in the future is vitally important. The unity between our character and our destiny is inseparable; the connection between our way of thinking and the course of events is unerring.”

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“Last Star Standing (Feb. 18, 2021) It's set in the near future - 2094 - and follows an alien invasion - so it HAS to be marketed as science fiction - but it's really about the narrator's tough, terrifying, but ultimately life-affirming personal journey. The book hit me, about three years ago, when I was meditating. This is something I do very badly! - but I have had amazing experiences - swirling colours, images - and, in this case, a character. I found myself looking down, from the Earth's surface, about a hundred metres, down a metallic shaft, at a young man imprisoned in a metal chair. It was Aiden, my narrator, and - from that bizarre introduction - he wouldn't leave me alone. With sinking heart I realised that I was being asked to write - at least technically - science fiction, of which I'd read exactly three - 1984, Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go and The Handmaid's Tale. The idea was crazy and I fought it tooth and nail. But Aiden fought back. He wanted his book to happen. He wanted to BE. And - long story short - he won! It's jst been published. If you read it, I hope you enjoy it. If you enjoy it, I hope you review it. And I very, VERY much hope, in these tough times, it really does offer a little escape! Spaulding Taylor”

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