Chapter 80 080 A Rebellious Novel (Qiu Zhui Reading Ticket Collection)
“Editor Zhou, these letters from readers are all comments on Fang Minghua’s "The Sun Also Rises"."
A young editor hurried into Zhou Yanru's office with a large stack of letters. " There were a lot of criticisms. Many readers wrote in saying that they couldn’t understand it and that it was disorganized. Some even said how could our "Yenjing Literature" publish such a novel? "
"It doesn't matter if you criticize a lot." Zhou Yanru chuckled: "Stream of consciousness is still a new thing in China, not to mention that this writing technique is a bit obscure."
Looking at the young editor's puzzled expression, Zhou Yanru patiently Explanation: "Xiao Yang, as an editor, what I fear most is not that a certain article will be controversial or criticized, but that after it is published, it will be like mud sinking into the sea without making any sound. That is scary."
"Controversy means there are hot spots and attention, which is a good thing for the magazine and even the author himself. Of course, there must be a degree here."
At this point, Zhou Yanru paused and continued. .
“Xiao Yang, you don’t have to worry too much about these letters from readers. You should pay more attention to the comments about this novel published in other newspapers and periodicals recently, especially some of the more famous figures in the literary world and influential magazines. , once there are negative comments about this novel, you must show it to me!”
"I understand."
"Go ahead."
After Xiao Yang left, Zhou Yanru looked at the pile of letterheads, smiled, no longer cared but picked up a manuscript .
The next morning, Zhou Yanru hurried to her office at the magazine on her bicycle. Before she had time to pour a glass of water and drink medicine, she heard a knock on the door, and then saw Xiao Yang in a panic. He broke in, holding a newspaper in his hand.
“What’s wrong?”
Zhou Yanru frowned slightly.
"Sorry, Editor Zhou, "Literary News" published a review today criticizing the novel written by Fang Minghua!"
"Literary News"? !
Zhou Yanru was surprised.
The name of this newspaper is very ordinary, but having been immersed in the literary world for most of her life, she knows how powerful this newspaper is.
Just after liberation, the state and publicity departments had strict management of literary and art periodicals, among which "Literary and Art Journal" played a supervisory and supervisory role!
Of course, after the reform and opening up, since the "Literary News" resumed publication, its nature of communication and debate has quickly replaced its regulatory function, but it still has a high reputation and "rank".
So the review articles published on it should not be underestimated, let alone the critical articles?
Zhou Yanru quickly took it and put on his reading glasses to look carefully.
It was written by an author named Zhou Fan, which is a pen name and is very famous in the domestic literary criticism circle.
Zhou Yanru read this review carefully and found that its criticism of "The Sun Also Rises" is divided into three points:
The biggest point is the stream of consciousness writing, which is somewhat confusing and mysterious, which makes people angry. stuffy.
Huh?
Seeing this, Zhou Yanru smiled slightly.
Two years ago, didn’t a certain well-respected poet in the domestic poetry circle comment on Misty Poetry in the same way?
Write an article called "The Depressing "Hazy"". Those poems that "can be read several times without getting a clear impression, half-understood, half-understood, or even completely understood, and hard to understand" are called "hazy style".
Misty poetry came from this, but now it has become the mainstream of the poetry world, and those critical words have caused greater controversy, which will push the debate on Misty poetry to a new stage.
Will this novel also be like this in the future?
But what she didn’t expect was that this critical article was quickly reprinted by several magazines and newspapers, and she suddenly felt like "the storm is about to come".
What’s more important is that critics are gradually pointing their finger at the editorial office itself: Why can such a novel be published? !
Zhou Yanru couldn't sit still. That afternoon, she rode to the Yanjing Writers Association on Qianmen West Street. She wanted to see Wang Meng.
At this time, Wang Meng was reading a newspaper leisurely. When he saw her knocking on the door and coming in, he immediately put down the newspaper, stood up and greeted her with a smile, and poured her a glass of water. "Editor Zhou, you don't go to the Three Treasures Palace for nothing, what's the matter?"
"Chairman Wang, the article "The Sun Also Rises" you recommended was a bit troublesome." They are all old acquaintances, Zhou Yanru Don't beat around the bush and tell the truth. "Is it this newspaper?" Wang Meng picked up the newspaper he was reading just now, it was "Literary News"!
"Yes, and some newspapers and magazines have recently reprinted this article. I feel it has had a big impact." Zhou Yanru looked anxious.
Wang Meng smiled, still looking gentle.
"What are you afraid of? It's just a novel, the sky won't fall!"
"But?" Zhou Yanru wanted to defend, but was interrupted by Wang Meng: "Don't worry, that era It’s gone forever, even if someone wants to make trouble, it will only cause a few splashes!”
Seeing Wang Meng’s appearance, Zhou Yanru slowly calmed down.
To be honest, she was afraid of being tortured.
"But, we have to say a few words, lest others really think that we have poor taste. I am going to write a review of this novel."
"You?"
Zhou Yanru It suddenly dawned on me.
Wang Meng is ready to publicly support it!
He is a big figure in today's literary world and the vice chairman of the Yanjing Writers Association. It is said that he will soon be the editor-in-chief of "People's Literature".
"People's Literature" is a publication affiliated with the Writers Association and has a very high status.
The position of editor-in-chief must be approved by the Central Propaganda Department!
“Chairman Wang, thank you.” Zhou Yanru said gratefully.
"Thank me for what? I recommended this novel. There was a little disturbance, so I naturally wanted to help." Wang Meng smiled.
"Editor Zhou, we have been through a lot of storms, what have we not seen? Just this matter, it is really not a big deal." Wang Meng comforted again.
Zhou Yanru admired Wang Meng for this.
Not surprised by favor or humiliation.
Sophisticated yet passionate.
Otherwise, why would you recommend such a novel that seems a bit "apostate" now?
Of course Wang Meng was not just talking, he immediately started writing. A few days later, he also published a signed article titled "The Sun Rises Upward" in the "Literary Newspaper".
The article shocked everyone at the beginning: "The "The Sun Also Rises" written by Comrade Fang Minghua actually said: Life dilemmas like "Faust" have always been in the world."
He actually wrote it Compare this novel with "Faust"!
"In the last section of the novel, the sun still rises. Who said that is the tail of light? That is the beginning of the story! This is not a simple flashback. The end is equal to the beginning, that is to say: life, It was like this in the past, and it may not be like this in the future."
"There is nothing new under the sun." The spiritual path will always face such difficulties - an end, or no end, and the end will be boring, and there will be no end. It's inevitable to go crazy. This is exactly the dilemma of Dr. Faustus: stop, lose your soul to the devil, and keep going like this, but for what purpose? However, on earth or in reality, life seems to only provide these two possibilities; even if you go crazy, life will still pass away like water and become empty.
Wang Meng’s comment was like a bomb, making this already hot topic even more popular.
Writers, critics, and readers came together to launch a heated debate around this novel.
Thanks to Book Friends 20220626030607847, Huanyingfeng, Book Friends 20181117220905231, Beihai Cangming, 36D Can’t Hold It, Snail Stampede, Book Friends 20221105234430370 for their monthly votes.
PS: The review written by Wang Meng in the article was actually a review written by Shi Tiesheng after watching this movie during his lifetime. It is very well written. If you are interested, you can search it online.
(End of this chapter)