Ordinary
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Summary
The book is at once a microcosm of the lives of those twenty thousand soldiers in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, a close-up of the Zone's forty years of development, and a historical record of the whole nation's support for the Zone's construction and of the Zone's gratitude to the people nationwide. Through its characterization, it embodies both the selfless spirit of sacrifice of Chinese soldiers and the philosophy of life that effort brings reward and kindness brings blessing.
Through its characterization, it embodies both the selfless spirit of sacrifice of Chinese soldiers and the philosophy of life that effort brings reward and kindness brings blessing.
Editor's review
In terms of reading value, the book's core appeal lies in its construction of a "domestic epic." It has no breathtaking legends, yet it weaves the life questions countless Chinese families face—school advancement, employment, marriage, eldercare—into a dense narrative stream of daily life. The author excels at precisely portraying characters' complex, subtle inner worlds and the silent marks the tide of the times leaves on individuals through minute scenes: a line of dialogue at the dinner table, a farewell at the station, a late-night phone call. This narrative strategy of "hearing thunder in silence" lifts the novel beyond trivial family matters and gives it the significance of a micro-sample for observing social change.
Professionally judged, the book's style is plain and calm, its narrative pace unhurried but internally full of tension, requiring the reader's quiet immersion. It may not deliver strong dramatic impact, but its aftereffect lies in how, after the book is closed, thoughts about responsibility, choice, sacrifice, and reconciliation linger in the mind. This is a work whose full flavor can only be fully savored with some life experience; it pays tribute to every ordinary person striving to keep balance amid the waves of the times and to hold on to a faint light in the trivialities of daily life.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in literary works depicting contemporary Chinese family ethics and social change
- Readers who prefer nuanced psychological portrayal and everyday-life narratives over strongly plot-driven stories
- Readers in midlife who are personally reflecting on family, career, and intergenerational relationships
- Readers seeking emotional resonance and life insight from literature
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking fast pacing, strong reversals, and the instant gratification typical of web fiction
- Readers with little patience for realism who prefer fantasy, science fiction, or other imagined worlds
Reading tips
- Read in a quiet, uninterrupted stretch to better immerse yourself in the emotional atmosphere and narrative rhythm.
- Try comparing the story with your own or your parents' family experiences; it may deepen your understanding.
- Don't rush toward the ending; savor instead the weight and helplessness behind each small choice the characters make.
About the publisher
Haitian Publishing House publishes in such areas as world history, biography, foreign literature, cultural theory and essays, with a sideline in art documentation. Representative titles held in the collection include Tim Weiner's Legacy of Ashes and The CIA: A History of Sixty Years, Wang Chaozhu's Meritorious Officials and Criminals: The Tragedy of Pan Hannian, a Chinese translation of Marcel Proust's Seventy-Five Pages, the gongbi and comprehensive volumes of The Complete Works of Zou Chuan'an, and A Brief History of the Academy: A Thousand-Year Song. Among the translators and authors associated with these works are Du Mo, Lin Tiangui, Wei Zonglei, Du Qinggang and Cheng Jing. Overall, the press has built up a body of work in historical reportage, biography and the translation of foreign literature, alongside traditional culture and art titles; as public information is limited, this profile is based only on the books held in the collection.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 作者简介
- 自序
- 第一章 告别军营
- 白沙岭火光
- 风雨竹子林
- 军营里的婚礼
- 第二章 弄潮商海
- 艰难的转型
- 扬帆起航
- 永远的军魂
- 第三章 拒绝诱惑
- 金钱的诱惑
- 爱的十字路口
- 第四章 都市农民工
- 初闯二线关
- 当上农民工
- 白领丽人
- 第五章 情系喀什
- 星星之火
- 支教之花
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About the author
Wu Shouwei is an author about whom limited public information is available. The details currently confirmed are few: his representative work is Ordinary, and his books are generally classified as documentary literature. Judging from this work and its category, Wu Shouwei's writing tends toward a plain, understated recording of real life and the experiences of ordinary people, focusing on authentic slices of daily existence rather than fiction or grand narratives. Documentary literature requires authors to treat their material with respect and restraint, which suggests that his style is likely simple and direct, emphasizing the presentation of facts themselves. Since only one of his works is held in the collection, there are no reliable records of his nationality, dates of birth and death, education, professional career, or creative history, making it difficult to sketch a fuller picture of his life. Readers wishing to learn about this author can currently rely mainly on Ordinary, discerning his writing orientation from its choice of subject and narrative approach.
