Unsparing Day and Night: A Novel Explores the Soul of an Ordinary Man
By [Your Name], Former Journalist for Xinhua News Agency, People’sDaily, CCTV, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times
The renowned Lu Xun Literature Prize winner, Wang Shiyue (pen name Wang Shiyue), hasreleased his latest novel, Unsparing Day and Night, a poignant exploration of the human spirit through the life of an ordinary man. The novel, published byHuacheng Press and selected for the Chinese Writers Association’s New Era Literary Climbing Plan, delves into the personal journey of Wang Duanwu, a man born in the 1970s.
Wang Shiyue,a native of Jingzhou, Hubei, currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the Guangdong Writers Association, Director of the Novel Creation Committee of the Guangdong Writers Association, and President and Editor-in-Chief of Works magazine. He has publishedeight novels, including No Monument, If the Doomsday Never Ends, Rice Island, The Footprint Collector, and Living Things, along with numerous short story collections and essays. In 2010, he won the Fifth Lu Xun Literature Prize for his novella.
Unsparing Day andNight marks Wang Shiyue’s return to long-form fiction after a 15-year hiatus. The novel, written in a simple yet evocative style, follows the life of Wang Duanwu, a man born in a small village in the 1970s. A childhood accident, where hisyounger brother tragically died during a playful incident, leaves a profound impact on Wang Duanwu. He feels responsible for his brother’s death, and his brother’s presence becomes a constant companion in his mind, a reflection of his own soul.
Driven by a thirst for knowledge and a desire to escape his ruralroots, Wang Duanwu embarks on a journey of self-discovery, working in various cities like Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Guangzhou during the era of China’s economic reforms. He experiences the hardships of poverty, the joy of success, and the bittersweet nature of love. His life, intertwined with the historical eventsand social changes of the past 50 years, becomes a microcosm of the era, reflecting the echoes of the times, the depths of human emotions, and the ebb and flow of individual destinies.
In a recent launch event at the Huacheng Writers Academy, writer Bao Shi commented, Unsparing Day andNight is a work that blends realism with modern literary techniques. The most striking example is the presence of Wang Duanwu’s brother in his mind, representing the duality of his being.
Wang Shiyue’s latest novel is a testament to the power of literature to capture the essence of human experience. It is a storyof loss, resilience, and the enduring search for meaning in a rapidly changing world. Through Wang Duanwu’s journey, the novel invites readers to reflect on their own lives and the complexities of the human condition.
References:
- 封面新闻 (2024-10-22).鲁奖作家王十月推出最新长篇《不舍昼夜》 用文学书写一个普通人的心灵史. Retrieved from [link to the original article]
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